Rewritable optical data storage in azobenzene copolymers

Opt Express. 2006 Oct 16;14(21):9896-901. doi: 10.1364/oe.14.009896.

Abstract

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.