Photoinduced self-developing relief gratings in thin film chalcogenide As/sub 2/S/sub 3/ glasses

Experimental observation and study of light induced relief gratings in chalcogenide glasses is presented. Holographic exposure of the glass film by near bandgap light leads to a real-time periodic thickness self-expansion without further processing. The dynamics of surface modulation is not monotone with respect to the exposition. These modulations demonstrate a strong memory effect, but can be erased by heating near the glass transition temperature.