Open AccessRewritable optical data storage in azobenzene copolymers
Author(s) -
Denis Gindre,
Alex Boeglin,
Alain Fort,
Loı̈c Mager,
K. D. Dorkenoo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.009896
Subject(s) - azobenzene , materials science , photoisomerization , femtosecond , 3d optical data storage , optical storage , optics , optoelectronics , chromophore , photochromism , laser , irradiation , thin film , computer data storage , copolymer , second harmonic generation , absorption (acoustics) , photochemistry , polymer , nanotechnology , computer science , isomerization , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , operating system , physics , composite material , nuclear physics
We propose to encode optical information through the localized depoling of polar chromophores in thin films of grafted polymeric materials with a femtosecond near IR laser source. This disorientation is promoted through the photoisomerization of the azo-dye component induced by a twophoton absorption process. We show that the resulting localized loss in second harmonic generation efficiency can be exploited in data storage applications. The low irradiation powers used allow for a recycling by reheating and repoling the films leading to a rewritable system.