Properties of (Se,S)-based chalcogenide glass films, and an application to a holographic supermicrofiche

In a (Se,S)-based chalcogenide glass system, the optical property, such as transmission and refractive index, changes reversibly within amorphous phase when the sample is heated and light irradiated. The refractive index in the light-irradiated state is larger than that in the heated state, and the amount of change Deltan reaches 0.05 ~ 0.1 in the visible wavelength region. The merits of this glass system as a recording material are high resolving power and rewritability. As an application, a rewritable holographic supermicrofiche, which is partially refreshable, and its experimental system are given. Characteristic features of this material as applied to an information retrieval system are discussed.