Local and nonlocal models for the diffusion of photopolymers are applied to the dynamic formation of transmission gratings recorded in photopolymers and holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs). We retrieve the main parameters of H-PDLCs (refractive-index modulation and diffusion coefficient) by combining a solution of the one-dimensional diffusion equation and the rigorous coupled-wave theory applied to transmission gratings. The rigorous coupled-wave theory method provides us with information on higher harmonics of the refractive profile (not only on the first harmonic as when the classical Kogelnik theory is applied). Measurements concerning the second harmonic validate the modeling.

The optimization of the experimental parameters of two multiplexed holographic transmission gratings recorded in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals is investigated. Two methods are used to record the holograms: simultaneous and sequential multiplexing. These two processes are optimized to produce two multiplexed Bragg gratings that have the same and the highest possible diffraction efficiencies in the first order. The two methods show similar results when suitable recording parameters are used. The parameters of the recorded gratings (mainly the refractive-index modulation) are retrieved by use of an extension of the rigorous coupled-wave theory to multiplexed gratings. Finally, the response of the holograms to an electric field is studied. We demonstrate few coupling effects between the behavior of both gratings, and we expect a possibility of switching from one grating to the other.

We report the design and fabrication of a chirped switchable reflective grating (CSRG) recorded in a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal material. This CSRG is a spatial wavelength-selective flattener in a free-space dynamic gain equalizer for use in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks. Prelimenary experimental results show that this device permits the management of the spectral power of a WDM stream with an attenuation range of 6 dB. The polarization-dependent loss introduced by the CSRG is shown to be less than 0.1 dB.

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