Abstract

We have carried out experimental and theoretical characterization of the dynamics of the vector holographic recording in azobenzene-containing polymeric films by observation of the temporal polarization states of the diffraction beams. Two types of mechanisms, i.e., linear polarization induced birefringence and migration induced rotation birefringence, are introduced in the present paper, and transitional reorientation and rotation of molecules during vector holographic recording in azobenzene-containing polymeric films are successfully determined.