Volume holographic image storage and electro-optical readout in a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal film

We report storage and electrical switching of holographic image data in an economical polymer-dispersed liquidcrystal material. The hologram is recorded in a fast, single-step process and can be reversibly erased and restored repeatedly by the application of fields of approximately 10-15 V/ microm, with a response time of 22 micros and a relaxation time of 42 micros. Simple (quasi-sinusoidal) holographic transmission gratings also are studied with switching fields of <5 V/ microm and with response and relaxation times of 25 and 44 micros, respectively.