Applied Nanophotonics, Liquid Crystals and Biomedical Optics

Photoinduced anisotropy in nano-dimensional (ND) thin films (<50nm thick) of chalcogenide glasses is observed for the first time. Results of photoinduced dichroism and photodarkening effect in 10, 20, 50 and 100 nm glassy As₂S₃ films are presented and compared with photoinduced phenomena in thick films (>1μm). ND As₂S₃ films are shown to function also as efficient photoresists. Preliminary model based on two exponential rate processes involving defects generation and stabilization is proposed explaining the main features of the photoinduced phenomena. These observations widen the range of applications of chalcogenide glassy films such as for higher capacity of optical data storage and for the photoalignment of liquid crystals.