Holographic patterning of composite polymeric materials for photonic applications

We report the results of an extended investigation on holographic patterning of novel liquid crystal-polymer materials, developed with the aim of producing one- and two-dimensional periodic structures to be used in optical devices for data storage and processing. Characterization of reflection gratings recorded at 405 rim resulted in values of diffraction efficiency (> 60%), sensitivity (Up to 10(4) cm/J) and refractive index modulation (Delta n similar to 0.01) that make these materials interesting for optical storage applications. Large-area two-dimensional periodic structures have been also patterned using a multibeam photolitigraphic technique. These planar photonic crystals have many possible uses, both in fundamental and applied physics.