High-efficiency phase hologram recording in chalcogenide films at elevated temperatures

It was found that the sensitivity of chalcogenide films to weakly absorbed light ($\alpha<10^3$ cm${}^{_1}$) increased at elevated temperatures. This effect was attributed to thermal activation of photostructural transitions and was observed in films of the $As-S$ and $As-S-Se$ systems, but not those of the $As-Se$ system. It should be possible to use this effect in highly efficient recording of phase holograms at temperatures of 100-120 degree C and for nondestructive readout at room temperature with the aid of light of just one wavelength ($\lambda=632.8$ or $\lambda=514.5$ nm).