Possibility of temperature control of the properties of holograms formed in media based on glassy chalcogenide semiconductors

An investigation was made of the possibility of temperature control of the properties of holograms recorded in monolithic plates made of a glassy nonstoichiometric As–S compound. Preliminary annealing to the softening temperature increased its diffraction sensitivity and reduced the optimal temperature at which holograms should be recorded. These effects were related to the appearance of a new phase in the glassy material, which was in the form of nucleating centers, and this made it possible to control the diffraction efficiency of the recorded holograms by heating and illumination. This recording method increased by several orders of magnitude the sensitivity of the material and made it possible to record holograms using radiation pulses of 10^–3–10^–4 J/mm² energy density.