Effects of absorption and inhibition during grating formation in photopolymer materials

Photopolymer materials are practical materials for use as holographic recording media, as they are inexpensive and self-processing (dry processed). Understanding the photochemical mechanisms present during recording in these materials is crucial to enable further development. One such mechanism is the existence of an inhibition period at the start of grating growth during which the formation of polymer chains is suppressed. Some previous studies have indicated possible explanations for this effect and approximate models have been proposed to explain the observed behavior. We examine in detail the kinetic behavior involved within the photopolymer material during recording to obtain a clearer picture of the photochemical processes present. Experiments are reported and carried out with the specific aim of understanding these processes. The results support our description of the inhibition process in an acrylamide-based photopolymer and can be used to predict behavior under certain conditions.