Holographic diffraction gratings as laser radiation protection filters

Holographic volume diffraction gratings are used as attenuation filters, due to their selective spectral transmission. They can be tailored to reflect or transmit narrow spectral ranges by adjusting spatial frequency of Bragg grating in carefully chosen photosensitive materials, like silver-halide emulsion or di-chromated gelatin layers. If properly recorded and chemically processed, resulting gratings can significantly attenuate light at wavelengths corresponding to various laser spectral lines. Thus, they can be used as filters in laser protection goggles. We analyze the characteristics of Bragg gratings necessary to obtain high attenuation coefficients. Also, their angular selectivity is taken into account and corresponding experimental conditions are investigated. Although di-chromated gelatin seems to be almost ideal material, due to its almost 100% diffraction efficiency, environmental stability is poor (degradation under humid environment), thus making its practical usage difficult. Thus, we have analyzed alternative materials like di-chromated pullulan, which is stable under normal environmental conditions (without drop in diffraction efficiency after prolonged exposure to humidity). Pullulan is polymer (polysaccharide) of biologic origin produced by certain bacteria. If doped with chromium ions it becomes photosensitive, enabling recording of diffraction gratings with spatial frequency of more than 3000 lines/mm. Material is chemically processed by mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. Both thick and thin layers can be produced by gravity settling. Spectral properties of resulting gratings are analyzed, showing that they can significantly attenuate laser light of particular wavelength, depending of grating period and its slant angle. (authors)