Border effect, fractal structures and brightness oscillations in non-silver photographic materials

A brief review of effects in information recording systems based on complex compounds of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with metals (Au, Cu, Pt, Bi) is presented. As the result of irradiation, the chain reaction process of decomposition causes the aggregation of metal atoms or metal salts molecules to point centers or dendritic crystals. Some features of these processes are outlined.