Investigation of light induced material transport in azobenzene photopolymers with x-ray diffraction and laser light spectroscopy

We performed additional to the laser light diffraction simultaneous X-ray diffraction at a synchrotron light source. X-rays have a much shorter wavelength than visible light which lead to an enhanced sensitivity for small surface relief grating heights. In order to get a surface grating a homogeneous flat surface is illuminated with an interference pattern of the writing laser. The virgin film diffracts neither laser light nor X-rays because of the missing grating.