Abstract: Described is a process for the production of a multi-layer body having a volume hologram with at least two different items of image information, wherein a photosensitive layer (46) of the multi-layer body is directly or with the interposition of a transparent optical medium (44s, 45) brought into contact with the front side of a master (44), in which interlaced regions with different asymmetrical surface structures or kinoform structures are shaped, which embody the at least two different items of image information. The photosensitive layer (46) and the master are exposed with a coherent light beam (47) whereby a volume hologram is formed in the photosensitive layer (46). Also described are a master for the production of the multi-layer body and a security element having said multi-layer body.

Abstract: A data storage device including: a plastic substrate having a plurality of volumes arranged in tracks along a plurality of vertically stacked, laterally extending layers therein; and, a plurality of micro-holograms each contained in a corresponding one of the volumes; herein, the presence or absence of a micro-hologram in each of the volumes is indicative of a corresponding portion of data stored.

Abstract: There are provided optical data storage media and methods of optical data storage using the same. The optical data storage media comprises a non-linear sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to a reactant that undergoes change upon triplet excitation. The refractive index change (?n) of the medium is at least about 0.005, or even at least about 0.05.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium is provided. The optical data storage medium includes a polymer matrix; a reactant capable of undergoing a change upon triplet excitation, thereby causing a refractive index change; and a non-linear sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to said reactant. The refractive index change capacity of the medium is at least about 0.1. The reactant comprises polyvinyl chlorocinnamate, polyvinyl methoxycinnamate, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a volume phase hologram recording material characterized by excellent photosensitivity, low cure shrinkage, high transparency, and particularly good storage stability and also disclosed is a recording medium prepared therefrom. Further disclosed is a photosensitive resin composition for volume phase hologram recording that comprises a soluble aromatic copolymer (A), a photoradically polymerizable compound (B) capable of copolymerizing with the soluble aromatic copolymer (A), a photopolymerization initiator (C), and a polymer binder (D). The soluble aromatic copolymer (A) has a structural unit of a divinyl aromatic compound and a structural unit of a monovinyl aromatic compound, comprises 10 to 90 mol % of a structural unit represented by the following formula (a1), has a hydroxyl equivalent of 100 to 30,000 g/equiv, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 400 to 30,000, and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 10 or less, and accounts for 5 to 60 wt % of the composition.

Abstract: An all-polymer grating microstructure device that exhibits a zero-order reflection under white light comprises a first polymer having a first refractive index and configured as a microstructure embedded within a second polymer having a second refractive index, each of the polymers of the first and second polymers at least translucent to white light with the proviso that the refractive index of the first polymer is at least 0.05 greater than the refractive index of the second polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, as well as articles and holographic recording medium comprising the system, where the system comprises: a polymerizable component comprising at least one photoactive polymerizable material; and a photoinitiator component comprising at least one photoinitiator for causing the polymerizable component to polymerize to thereby form a plurality of holographic gratings when activated by exposure to a photoinitiating light source; wherein when a portion of the polymerizable component has been polymerized to form at least one holographic grating, the unpolymerized portion of the polymerizable component is resistant to further polymerization when not exposed to the photoinitiating light source. The present invention also provides methods for forming at least one holographic grating in a holographic recording medium having such a photopolymerizable system.

Abstract: There are provided compositions, optical data storage media and methods of using the optical data storage. The compositions comprise a non-linear sensitizer comprising one or more platinum ethynyl complexes capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to a reactant that undergoes a photochemical change upon triplet excitation.

Abstract: A device providing for microstructuring a storage medium includes a radiation source for producing an at least partially coherent beam from electromagnetic radiation, a modulator provided with a plurality of individually switchable modulator elements, a beam-forming optical element for illuminating the modulator, a reducing optical element for reducing a beam radiated by the modulator, and a transport table for displacing the storage medium in relation to the reducing optical element. The device solves technical problems caused by writing of microstructuring and individual diffractive optical elements, in particular computer-generated holograms having a high speed and high writing energy. The device is achieved in that the reducing optical element is configured with limited diffraction and produces a surface reduction of at least 25 from a surface of the individually switchable modulator elements.

Abstract: Embodiments for electro-optical identification are disclosed.

Abstract: A holographic sensor comprising a thin film polymer matrix that undergoes a change in response to a substance to be sensed, the matrix containing within its volume a set of two or more holographic recordings, each recording providing a holographic image when the sensor is illuminated, wherein the presence or appearance of each image is visible to the eye as a function of the response of the sensor to the substance to be sensed. The images provide the dynamic range of the sensor. Such a sensor can be used to provide a visible image that changes or appears to the eye in response to an analyte.

Abstract: A data storage device including: a plastic substrate having a plurality of data volumes arranged along tracks in a plurality of stacked layers; a plurality of micro-holograms each contained in a corresponding one of the data volumes; a plurality of complementary volumes, each corresponding to and being substantially aligned with one of the data volumes; a plurality of micro-holograms each contained in a corresponding one of the complementary volumes; wherein, the presence or absence of a micro-hologram in each of the data volumes is indicative of a corresponding portion of data stored; and, the ones of the complementary volumes corresponding to the ones of the data volumes containing a micro-hologram do not contain a micro-hologram; and the ones of the complementary volumes corresponding to the ones of the data volumes not containing a micro-hologram contain a micro-hologram.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which is suitable for volume hologram record and can attain high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, that is, storage stability, durability, low dimensional change (low shrinkage) and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using not only a green laser but also a blue laser. A hologram recording material comprising: a metal oxide matrix; and a photopolymerizable compound which has at least one (meth)acrylamide group as a photo-reactive group, and has a polyalkylene glycol unit represented by the following formula: —(RO)n— wherein R represents a lower alkylene group, and n represents the number of repeating units of alkylene oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article comprising: a binder component, a polymerizable component; and a photoinitiator component comprising at least one photoinitiator that causes the polymerizable component to form a polymer or co-polymer when a portion of the polymerizable component is exposed to a light source. The present invention also provides a method for making such an article, and a method and a system for holographically recording a spatial light distribution to such an article. The present invention also provides an article comprising: a binder component and a photoactive component, a method of making such an article, a method of recording to such an article and a system for recording to such an article.

Abstract: Described are holographic storage mediums and method of making holographic storage mediums. The holographic storage mediums may have write components that bind to the matrix to form a pattern in the media. The holographic storage mediums may also be rewriteable.

Abstract: There are described a process for the production of a multi-layer body (100) having a partially shaped first layer (3m) and a multi-layer body produced in that way.

Abstract: High performance media suitable for recording with a blue laser is disclosed. The blue-sensitized holographic media provides greater dynamic range and higher sensitivity than previously disclosed blue-sensitized holographic media. These media can be used for diverse applications such as data storage where the articles provide denser data storage and more rapid hologram writing times or for optical waveguides where the articles provide greater optical confinement and more rapid manufacturing times.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a holographic recording medium and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which effects of distortion or irregularities of the surface of an exposure object can be reduced. The method includes the steps of: splitting a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator into a first laser beam and a second laser beam, and forming a fringe pattern in a holographic recording medium by illuminating the holographic recording medium with the first laser beam through a mask and illuminating the holographic recording medium with the second laser beam. The mask is a substrate having a light-shielding film formed over its surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a volume phase hologram recording material excellent in transparency, sensitivity, low curing shrinkage, and transparency, a volume phase hologram recording medium, and a volume phase hologram. A photosensitive resin composition for volume phase hologram recording contains a low-molecular-weight solvent-soluble aromatic copolymer (A) having a structural unit of a divinyl aromatic compound and a structural unit of a monovinyl aromatic compound, a photoradical polymerizable compound (B) which is copolymerizable with the soluble aromatic copolymer (A), and a photopolymerization initiator (C) as essential components. The photosensitive resin composition further contains, one kind or more of a polymer binder (D) and a plasticizer (E), and the soluble aromatic copolymer (A) is incorporated in an amount of 5 to 60% by weight.

Abstract: A new fiber position monitoring method for sequential FBG UV-writing processes with a reference phase mask as the phase reference is proposed. Also, the new method by probing a reference phase mask can overcome the optical alignment difficulties in using reference fiber as well as provide more signal power for achieving better monitoring accuracy. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for sequentially joining a plurality of grating sections into a fiber grating longer than a phase mask.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a film forming, photoactive, homogeneously mixed material comprising a complex prepared from (a) at least one ionic photosensitive compound which may undergo a photoreaction, selected from photoisomerizations, photocycloadditions and photoinduced rearrangements, and/or (a?) at least one photosensitive polyelectrolyte (“second polyelectrolyte”) carrying residues which may undergo said photoreaction, and (b) at least one (“first”) polyelectrolyte carrying charges which are opposite to those of the active groups of the photosensitive material. This material has unique photochemical properties in that non-scattering, optically clear films may prepared therefrom which allow light-induced generation of optical anisotropy and of topological surface structures, e.g. such as surface relief gratings (SRG).

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which is suitable for volume hologram record and attains high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low shrinkage and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using not only a green laser but also a blue laser; a process for producing the same; and a hologram recording medium having the hologram recording material. A hologram recording material comprising: a metal oxide containing at least Si and Zr as metals, wherein an aromatic carboxylic acid compound is coordinated to Zr; and a photopolymerizable compound. The aromatic carboxylic acid compound is, for example, toluic acid. A hologram recording medium (11) comprising the hologram recording material layer (21).

Abstract: A system and method for holographic lithography is disclosed, including interferometeric alignment of laser sources. This includes creation of the volumetric holographic pattern around wire and other planar and non-planar substrates. This template is further processed into devices for various applications including Photonic Crystals, Photonic Band Gaps, Photonic Band Gaps with selective defects, and Photonic Band Gap incandescent emitters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor comprising a medium and, disposed therein, a hologram, wherein an optical characteristic of the medium changes as a result of a variation in a physical property of the medium, wherein the fringes of the hologram are formed by silver grains and wherein the medium comprises a material which does not bind silver. The brightness and sensitivity of such holographic sensors is increased as a result of reduction in the levels of unwanted (“background”) silver binding.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic hybrid material comprising (a) at least one soluble organic polymer, (b) at least one mono- or polynuclear metal complex having at least one ligand which comprises at least one photochemically and/or thermally polymerizable functional group and (c) surface-modified nanoscale particles. Also disclosed is an optical component which is made by using the hybrid material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable compound denoted by general formula (1). In general formula (1), A denotes an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or NR, R denotes a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group, X denotes a hydrogen atom, polymerizable group, optionally polymerizable group-substituted alkyl group or the like, B and C each independently denote a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, polymerizable group, optionally polymerizable group-substituted alkyl group or the like, wherein at least one from among B and C denotes a hydrogen atom and at least one from among X, Y, and Z comprises a polymerizable group, m denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 5, n denotes an integer ranging from 0 to 2, and Q denotes an elimination group.

Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to proton-translocating retinal proteins which exhibit a photocycle which is retarded as compared with the wild type and whose all-trans retinal contents in the light-adapted and dark-adapted states do not differ from each other by more than 10%. The invention furthermore relates to a photochromic composition and to the use of the proton-translocating retinal proteins and the photochromic composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which is suitable for volume hologram record and attains high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low shrinkage and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using not only a green laser but also a blue laser; a process for producing the same; and a hologram recording medium having the hologram recording material. A hologram recording material comprising: a metal oxide containing at least Si and Zr as metals wherein a ?-dicarbonyl compound is coordinated to Zr; and a photopolymerizable compound, wherein a mole ratio of the ?-dicarbonyl compound to the Zr atom (?-dicarbonyl compound/Zr ratio) is 2/1 or more and 3/1 or less, and a mole ratio of the Si atom to the Zr atom (Si/Zr ratio) is more than 1/1 and 1.15/1 or less in the metal oxide. A hologram recording medium (11) comprising the hologram recording material layer (21).

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording medium which can attain high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimension change (low shrinkage) and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using a blue laser. A hologram recording medium (11) comprising at least a hologram recording material layer, wherein the hologram recording material layer (21) comprises at least: an organometallic compound having at least a Ti—O bond, and a photopolymerizable compound; and said medium has a light transmittance is 50% or more at a wavelength of 405 nm, or a light reflectance is 25% or more at a wavelength of 405 nm. The organometallic compound is favorably obtained by subjecting an alkoxide compound of the corresponding metal(s) to hydrolysis and polymerization reaction in an organic solvent which neither contains cyclic ether skeleton nor carbonyl oxygen.

Abstract: An embossing surface and a method for creating that surface is provided by a polyimide material which has photodefinable characteristics. One benefit is that the embossing surfaces do not have to be made by data transfer from the photo-definable surface. The polyimide material is cured by heating to a predetermined hardness appropriate for the surfaces to be embossed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing holographic data comprising providing a holographic storage medium comprising an optically transparent substrate including a photochemically active dye having at least two nitrone groups; and irradiating the optically transparent substrate with a holographic interference pattern, wherein the pattern has a first wavelength and an intensity both sufficient to convert, within a volume element of the substrate, at least some of the photochemically active dye into a photo-product, and producing within the irradiated volume element concentration variations of the photo-product corresponding to the holographic interference pattern, thereby producing a first optically readable datum corresponding to the volume element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a data storage media comprising mixing a photochromic dye with an organic material or an inorganic material to form a holographic composition; and molding the holographic composition into holographic data storage media. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a photochromic dye and an organic material, wherein the article is used as a data storage media. Disclosed herein too is a method for recording information comprising irradiating an article that comprises a photochromic dye; wherein the irradiation is conducted with electromagnetic energy having a wavelength of about 350 to about 1,100 nanometers; and reacting the photochromic dye.

Abstract: Photosensitizing dyes are often used in conjunction with a photoacid generator in holographic recording media. Conventional photosensitizing dyes typically are limited by having an appreciable absorption of light when used in a sufficient concentration, such that the intensity of light decreases significantly with penetration into a recording medium. The present invention discloses a number of new 5-alkynyl substituted napthacene photosensitizing dyes that have low extinction coefficients coupled with good sensitizing properties, such that the problems associated with the photosensitizing dyes absorbing light are significantly reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a duplicate hologram recording medium includes: a positioning section configured to place the duplication master and the duplicate hologram recording medium at predetermined relative positions; an angle selective plate arranged between the duplication master and the duplicate hologram recording medium, the angle selective plate having an angle selective film whose transmittance changes in accordance with an incidence angle of a light beam; and a duplicating-reference-beam generating and radiating section generating a duplicating reference beam, and radiating the duplicating reference beam at such an incidence angle that the duplicating reference beam is transmitted through a predetermined region of a recording layer of the duplication master and is reflected by the angle selective film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a titanium-containing metal oxide the coloration of which is decreased; a hologram recording material suitable for holographic memory recording using a blue laser, wherein a titanium-containing metal oxide the coloration of which is decreased is used as a metal oxide matrix; a process for producing the same; and a hologram recording medium. A process for producing a metal oxide comprising at least Ti as a metal element, the process comprising: providing an alkoxide compound of Ti to which a glycol other than any geminal diol and any vicinal diol is coordinated; hydrolyzing the alkoxide compound of Ti to which the glycol is coordinated, thereby yielding a precursor of a metal oxide; and advancing polycondensation reaction of the metal oxide precursor, thereby forming the metal oxide.

Abstract: A component for authenticating a document or a product including a plastic film having at least one embossed surface, a metallization layer at least partially covering the embossed surface, the film and the metallized layer forming an embossed film having a first zone producing a rainbow effect according to a first orientation of the component in relation to a lighting direction, the rainbow effect disappearing when the component is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first orientation, and a second zone which has been partially demetallized and remetallized with a dielectric material producing an effect of being colored by a first color for the first orientation of the component and by a second different color for the orientation substantially perpendicular to the first orientation.

Abstract: A method of producing a security document or article including a substrate (100), which is transparent at least to visible light, and a diffractive optical microstructure (112). The method includes applying an opacifying layer (102) to at least one surface of the transparent substrate (100). An area of the opacifying layer (102) is exposed to laser radiation (108) to ablate apertures (110) in selected portions of the opacifying layer (102), thereby forming a diffractive optical microstructure (112) on the surface of the substrate (100). The laser radiation may be patterned prior to exposing the opacifying layer (102), for example by passing the radiation through a mask (104). Alternatively, a focussed or collimated laser beam (206) may be directed onto the selected portions of the opacifying layer (102). Laser radiation may be directed onto the opacifying layer (102) either directly, or through the transparent substrate (100).

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a first substrate having a groove on the side of an outer peripheral portion thereof; a second substrate in contact with the first substrate in the outer peripheral portion; and a recording layer being disposed in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate and forming a void in cooperation with the first substrate at the portion of the groove.

Abstract: A hologram recording material contains a molecule having intrinsic birefringence and a photoresponsive macromolecule represented by the following formula (1). in formula (1), L1 representing a bivalent linking group, X representing a group having a substituent constant ? based on Hammett's rule of a value of more than 0, the maximum absorption wavelength of an azobenzene group bonding to X being approximately 360 nm or less, A representing a group that is a component of a repeating unit with a carbon number of 2 or more that is a component of a macromolecular main chain, nx representing an integer of 1 or 2, and n representing an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: The volume hologram recording photosensitive composition provided by the present invention contains at least a fluorine-contained photoreactive compound represented by the following formula (1): R1—R3—(CF2)n-R4—R2 wherein R1 and R2 are photoreactive groups which can be bonded to each other by photoreaction, and each of R3 and R4 is independently a single bond or a bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 or more. This volume hologram recording photosensitive composition is used to form a recording section of a recording medium, and then the section is exposed to light, whereby a bright volume hologram can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a volume hologram laminate with low generation of spotty hologram flaws in the volume hologram layer even when kept under pressurized conditions during storage, and to a volume hologram laminate-fabricating label. The volume hologram laminate 1 of the invention has a first adhesive layer 3, a volume hologram layer 5, a second adhesive layer 4 and a surface protective film 6 formed in that order on a substrate 1, wherein the volume hologram layer is a hologram recording in a recording material comprising a matrix polymer and a photopolymerizable compound, having a glass transition point of 30° C.-70° C. and a dynamic storage elastic modulus of 5×105 Pa-5×107 Pa at 50° C. when measured at 6.28 rad/s, and the second adhesive layer has a dynamic storage elastic modulus of no greater than 5×104 Pa or at least 2.5×105 Pa at 50° C. when measured at 6.28 rad/s.

Abstract: A hologram recording material is used for recording information by at least irradiation with light. The hologram recording material includes photoresponsive molecules, liquid crystal molecules, and particles having an average particle diameter of one tenth or less of a wavelength of light used in the information recording.

Abstract: A harmonic holography (H2) technique and system that combines holography and nonlinear optics that enables holographic recording of 3D images with femtosecond framing time are provided. The H2 technique records holograms with second harmonic (SH) signals scattered off specialized nanocrystals that are functionalized to label specific protein or other biomolecules in a living organism. The capability of generating second harmonic radiations is specific to materials with noncentrosymmetric crystalline structures only, and ?(2) vanishes for all other types of materials. Therefore, a sharp contrast is formed when particles of noncentrosymmetric structures are dispersed in a medium of other species, pumped at a fundamental frequency, and imaged at the second harmonic frequency. The new scheme described herein provides a sound basis for a new type of contrast microscopy with enormous potential in molecular biomedical imaging.

Abstract: A method of making a holographic data storage medium is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing an optically transparent substrate comprising at least one photochemically active dye; and (b) irradiating the optically transparent substrate at least one wavelength at which the optically transparent substrate has an absorbance in a range from about 0.1 to 1, to produce a modified optically transparent substrate comprising at least one optically readable datum and at least one photo-product of the photochemically active dye. The at least one wavelength is in a range from about 300 nanometers to about 800 nanometers. The optically transparent substrate is at least 100 micrometers thick, and comprises the photochemically active dye in an amount corresponding to from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent based on a total weight of the optically transparent substrate.

Abstract: Various methods of producing a security document or article including a diffractive optical microstructure are disclosed. One method includes applying an opacifying layer (102) to at least one surface of a transparent substrate (100). An area of the opacifying layer (102) is exposed to laser radiation (108) to ablate apertures (110) in selected portions of the opacifying layer (102), thereby forming a diffractive optical microstructure (112) on the surface of the substrate (100). The laser radiation may be patterned prior to exposing the opacifying layer (102), for example by passing the radiation through a mask (104). Alternatively, a focussed or collimated laser beam (206) may be directed onto the selected portions of the opacifying layer (102). Laser radiation may be directed onto the opacifying layer (102) either directly, or through the transparent substrate (100). Security documents or articles made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which can modulate its refractive index effectively with visible light laser and is excellent also in transparency after this modulation.

Abstract: Hologram production devices can include holographic recording material deposition systems to deposit holographic recording material as needed by the hologram production device. Various nozzles, ink jets, and similar devices can be used to deposit one or more components of the holographic recording material on to an appropriate substrate. If needed, the material is pre-processed to, for example, provide material stability for the holographic recording material. Once holograms are recorded in the holographic recording material, the material can be post-processed as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which attains high refractive index change, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimensional change and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording; a process for producing the hologram recording material; and a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising a metal oxide matrix and a photopolymerizable compound, said metal oxide matrix having a halogen-containing organic group. The metal oxide matrix is formed by hydrolysis and polymerization reaction of a metal alkoxide compound, and said metal alkoxide compound includes a metal alkoxide compound represented by the following general formula (1): (RH)mM(OR)n??(1) wherein RH represents the halogen-containing organic group, R represents an alkyl group, M represents a metal atom, m represents 1 or 2, and m+n represents the valence of the metal atom M.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source unit which emits laser beam, an optical element which receives the laser beam and releases at least a part of the entering laser beam in a direction different from the entering direction of the laser beam as illumination light, and an illumination optical path unit which is bendable and transmits the laser beam emitted from the light source unit to the optical element.