Open AccessPolarization patterns hide and display using photoinduced anisotropy of photochromic fulgide
Author(s) -
Baoli Yao,
Yingli Wang,
Ming Lei,
Neimule Menke,
Guofu Chen,
Yi Chen,
Tiankai Li,
Meigong Fan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.13.000020
Subject(s) - optics , photochromism , polarization (electrochemistry) , materials science , polarized light microscopy , transmittance , optoelectronics , anisotropy , light beam , camouflage , birefringence , linear polarization , optical axis , ray , excitation , circular polarization , physics , laser , nanotechnology , chemistry , lens (geology) , zoology , quantum mechanics , biology , microstrip
Photoinduced anisotropy of a photochromic pyrrylfulgide/PMMA film was investigated by using two linearly polarized beams. Excitation by linearly polarized light induces into the film an optical axis that has the same polarization as the excitation beam. This causes a change of the transmittance and of the polarization state of the detection beam. With a microscope a matrix of 4x4 light spots with different polarizations were recorded in the pyrrylfulgide/PMMA film. If readout with non-polarized light, the matrix of light spots show no information pattern. However, when readout with differently polarized lights, different patterns can be displayed. The experiment demonstrates that pyrrylfulgide/PMMA films can be used to hide two differently polarized patterns, which may be applied in camouflage technology.