Diffusion of photoexcited azo dye in a liquid-crystal host

Dynamic holograms are created and studied in a D2 azo-dye-doped nematic liquid crystal. The dependence of diffraction on the excitation and probe polarizations is observed. The efficiency of excitation and the corresponding relaxation time depend also on the period and orientation of the light-interference pattern with respect to the initial molecular orientation. The excitation and diffusion of dye molecules are suggested to be the origin of these phenomena. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.