Temperature characteristics of optical recording and erasure on AsSe chalcogenide layers

An investigation is made of the recording and erasure of optical information on AsSe layers at various temperatures and of the influence of laser preliminary irradiation on the erasure process. It is found that with a rising temperature, the highest obtainable contrast in the recording is diminished. At 393 K (the beginning of thermal erasure) the material loses its ability for photoinduced transformations. If the recording is made at a temperature lower than 393 K, it will remain throughout the entire temperature interval until the onset of thermal erasure. At temperatures exceeding that at which the recording is made, contrast may be decreased by laser radiation to a value corresponding to the given temperature.