Methylene blue sensitized gelatin as a photosensitive medium for conventional and polarizing holography

The properties of thin gelatin films sensitized with a dye (methylene blue) when used as a holographic material are discussed. On illumination the excited dye molecule changes its structure giving a colorless molecule. The higher rate of bleaching and therefore the higher diffraction efficiency of the developed phase gratings are obtained in an oxygen-free atmosphere. Furthermore, the light absorption probability of the dye molecules depends on its position with respect to the electric vector of the light, with the result that the exposed part of the dye becomes dichroic when illuminated with linearly polarized light. This result allows the use of this material for polarizing holography.