Diffraction, Ltd.

Scott W Tighe

William P Parker

The present invention is directed to a holographic media that is composed of a mixture of a photosensitive substance such as a photopolymer and a porous rigid material such as an aerogel that provides a substructure to the composite material. This unique composition of matter can be utilized in a multitude of applications where a thick optically patterned wavefront modulating media is required, including as a holographic storage device. The composite material avoids the difficulties regarding shrinkage found in plain photopolymers. The rigid highly porous component is specially treated to receive the photosensitive material. This unshrinkable substructure has a plurality of very small, rigid pores that is essentially transparent at optical wavelengths and provides the matrix for the photopolymers. It provides holographic recording in both thin and thick formats without shrinkage and pattern distortion. The method of producing the composite holographic media is also disclosed.

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Middlesex, VT, United States of America

Scott W Tighe