title: Spatially resolved refractive index profiles of electrically switchable computer-generated holographic gratings.
abstract: We describe a spatially resolved interferometric technique combined with a phase reconstruction method that provides a quantitative two-dimensional profile of the refractive index and spatial distribution of the optical contrast between the on-off states of electrically switchable diffraction gratings as a function of the external electric field. The studied structures are holographic gratings optically written into polymer/liquid crystal composites through single-beam spatial light modulation by means of computer-generated holograms. The electro-optical response of the gratings is also discussed. The diffraction efficiency results to be dependent on the incident light polarization suggesting the possibility to develop polarization dependent switching devices.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Cibernetica E Caianiello"del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Na, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finizio
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Nicola