Photoinduced anisotropy and polarization holography in a stilbene-containing fluorinated polyimide.

A stilbene-containing fluorinated polyimide with high optical and thermal stability was prepared. The photoinduced anisotropy in this polyimide was investigated by measuring its dichroism and photoinduced birefringence. A large photoinduced birefringence (Deltan approximately 10(-2)) was achieved in the polymer. Stable and pure polarization phase gratings without surface-relief structure were written in the polymer film by using two orthogonally linearly or circularly polarized 532 nm beams. The polarization gratings were studied with a 650 nm probe beam by measuring the diffraction efficiency of the probe beam and surveying the conversion of the polarization state of the probe beam.