Orthogonal polarization interference with vertical S and horizontal P waves in TI/PMMA cationic photopolymers

Volume holographic storage with orthogonal polarization interference effectively enhances the capacity and flexibility of data access. In this study, we fabricated a novel type of photoinduced anisotropic polymer, titanocene dispersed poly methyl methacrylate (TI/PMMA), which is sensitive to the polarization state of the optical transmitted field. Using interference coupling equipment with two orthogonal linearly polarized beams (S and P waves), we investigated the diffraction characteristics of polarization holography within TI/PMMA polymers. The ratios of the S and P components of the diffracted beam were examined using a polarized beam splitter (PBS). The maximum diffraction efficiency of 74.1% was achieved in 1 mm thick TI/PMMA polymers with an exposure power of 10 mW, while an optimized response time of 16 s was obtained with an exposure power of 30 mW. The polarization conversion ratios (PCR) of the diffraction were over 96% with different sample thicknesses (1-3 mm) and exposure densities (10-30 mW). Therefore, TI/PMMA polymer, as a potential recording medium, can retain the polarization information of wavefronts through polarization holographic recordings. Our research provides diversified application prospects for the development of volume holographic storage.