Photorefractive device and process for its use

An imaging array consisting of a plurality of photorefractive devices connected electrically in parallel, each said photorefractive device being comprised of

• first and second electrical biasing means for establishing a potential gradient between first and second spaced locations and, interposed between said first and second electrical biasing means,
• intermediate means capable of producing in a readout beam of electromagnetic radiation an image pattern corresponding to that present in a spatially intersecting writing beam of electromagnetic radiation when a potential gradient is applied to said intermediate means by said first and second electrical biasing means,
• characterized in that said intermediate means consists of a photorefractive layer capable of internally storing the image pattern of the writing beam created by its interference with an intersecting reference beam of electromagnetic radiation, said photorefractive layer being comprised of a homogeneous charge neutral organic photoconductor containing organic noncentrosymmetric molecular dipoles capable of imparting to said photorefractive layer a second order polarization susceptibility of greater than 10.sup.-9 esu, said molecular dipoles each containing an electron donor moiety linked through a conjugated .pi. bonding system to an electron acceptor moiety.