Volume hologram recording in inorganic glasses

This paper surveys publications that describe inorganic glasses as photosensitive materials for hologram recording. Volume amplitude holograms in photochromic borosilicate glasses doped with microcrystals of silver and copper halides were possibly the first holographic use of inorganic glasses. The surface relief gratings were recorded in chalcogenide and oxide glasses by means of photo-induced etching after exposure to visible and UV radiation, respectively. Recently, such holograms were recorded in silica by photoinduced shaping after exposure to radiation of femtosecond IR laser pulses. Phase volume holograms were recorded in porous silicate glasses impregnated with organic compounds by photo-polymerization and in chalcogenide glasses by photoinduced structural transformation. Phase volume holograms recorded in photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glasses are described in more detail because of their high diffraction efficiency, thermal, mechanical, and environmental stability combined with high tolerance to pulsed and CW laser radiation. Applications of Bragg gratings in PTR glasses are discussed.