Investigation of the UV-resistance of photopolymerisable glass for space applications

In response to the growing demand for compact space instruments, this study focuses on enhancing the UV resistance of a photopolymerizable glass used in volume holographic optical elements. The current material, developed through a sol-gel technique, demonstrates quick curing, stability under high humidity and temperatures, but susceptibility to UV-induced cracking. The research aim is to improve UV resistance, noting that thicker layers exhibit reduced resistance. The study explores the approach of single-beam post-exposure which is found to decrease the UV exposure detrimental effect on layer properties. Additionally, the impact of chemical composition variations, such as dye concentration and plasticiser addition, on material UV exposure resilience is investigated. Optical properties, including diffraction efficiency and refractive index modulation, are assessed before and after UV exposure to evaluate material performance.