Ablative optical recording using organic dye-in-polymer thin films: Some mechanistic aspects

Abstract

The influence of a number of materials properties and device structure variations on the energy threshold for laser marking of organic dye-in-polymer films has been investigated. Our results indicate that the write-sensitivity of these organic dye-in-polymer optical recording media is strongly dependent on the absorption efficiency of the recording film, the quantum efficiency of generation of thermal energy by the dye and the recording film thickness for films >100 nm. The write-sensitivity is however, not dependent on the glass transition temperature, the surface tension or the melt viscosity of the polymer binder. This independence is attributed to the very rapid nature of the mark formation process. The technological implications of the present work are discussed.