Reversible optical storage utilizing pulsed, photoinduced, electric-field-assisted reorientation of azobenzenes

We demonstrate a method of permanent optical recording of digital data which exploits a fast photoisomerization of nonlinear molecules, followed by a slow permanent alignment within a polymer. Write and erase cycles are initiated by rapidly photoisomerizing azobenzene molecules into an intermediate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 1995-04, Vol.66 (17), p.2156-2158
Main Authors: Hill, R. A., Dreher, S., Knoesen, A., Yankelevich, D. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We demonstrate a method of permanent optical recording of digital data which exploits a fast photoisomerization of nonlinear molecules, followed by a slow permanent alignment within a polymer. Write and erase cycles are initiated by rapidly photoisomerizing azobenzene molecules into an intermediate state with a larger mobility. The molecules align or randomly orient within the polymer depending on the presence or absence of an electric field. During orientation, relaxation to a stable isomer occurs and the alignment becomes permanent. The recorded information can then be nondestructively read by second-harmonic generation. Nanosecond optical exposures were used, demonstrating that extremely fast recording rates are possible.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.113931