Photoinduced effects in amorphous chalcogenides

Exposure of many amorphous chalcogenides can change their structure, reactivity, and optical and other properties. New results of the study of photoinduced effects are presented and reviewed. Both reversible and irreversible photoinduced effects and changes of short-range order have been studied by Raman and IR spectroscopy in As-S layers. The effects of photo-doping, chemical modification, photoinduced surface deposition, optically induced changes of reactivity and their dependence on the structure as well as mechanisms of optically induced effects are discussed. Attention is also paid to photoinduced effects in different materials. The photoinduced changes of structure and properties can be applied in high-resolution lithography, for optical storage, in production of photo-resists, optical diffraction elements, planar optoelectronic parts and circuits. Some of these applications are also mentioned. (authors)