Abstract

We have studied the photorefractive properties of three different polymer types. A first class were (2_/4_/7-trinitro-9-fluorenylidene)rnalononitrile sensitized poly(N-vinylcarbazole)/N-ethylcarbazole polymer composites doped with dyes of varying polarity. The performance was optimized, and at an applied field of 59 Volt/micrometer, we have observed complete internal diffraction and a gain coefficient of 167 cm⁻¹. A photorefractive two-beam coupling novelty filter was constructed with such a polymer. The response of these composites was compared to that of polymethacrylates functionalized with carbazole, an internal plasticizer and different chromophores. The best results were obtained in a third polymer type, where only a bifunctional chromophore was attached to the polymer backbone.

© 2001 Optical Society of America