Image Storage Based on Photoinduced Alignment in Azobenzene Liquid-Crystalline Films

Image storage based on photoinduced alignment in azobenzene liquid-crystalline films is reported. Measurements reveal that the liquid-crystalline film possesses large photoinduced birefringence (Δ_n~10^-2 and permanent optical storage characteristics. The photoinduced alignment process is used for storing images. It is clearly demonstrated that the alignment of the azo chromophores as well as the stored image can be controlled by choosing the appropriate polarization of the irradiating light.