Refractive elements produced in photopolymer layers

In the present work we examine the possibility of producing lenses using a fabrication method that takes advantage of the change induced in acrylamide-based holographic recording materials during and after exposure to intense light. In order to study the production of lenses using this method it is necessary to first perform a temporal study of the evolution of the optically induced surface relief pattern. In this study we examine the effects of coherent exposure energy and mask pattern on the final surface relief pattern. Both single and double beam (interferometric/holographic) exposures are examined to determine the implications of material volume change for holographic recording.