Frequency and phase swept holograms in spectral hole-burning materials

A new hologram type in spectral hole-burning systems is presented. During exposure, the frequency of narrow-band laser light is swept over a spectral range that corresponds to a few homogeneous linewidths of the spectrally selective recording material. Simultaneously the phase of the hologram is adjusted as a function of frequency-the phase sweep function. Because of the phase-reconstructing properties of holography, this recording technique programs the sample as a spectral amplitude and phase filter. We call this hologram type frequency and phase swept (FPS) holograms. Their properties and applications are summarized, and a straightforward theory is presented that describes all the diffraction phenomena observed to date. Thin FPS holograms show strongly asymmetric diffraction into conjugated diffraction orders, which is an unusual behavior for thin transmission holograms. Investigations demonstrate the advantages of FPS holograms with respect to conventional cw recording techniques in freq ncymultiplexed data storage. By choosing appropriate phase sweep functions, various features of holographic data storage can be optimized. Examples for cross-talk reduction, highest diffraction efficiency, and maximal readout stability are demonstrated. The properties of these FPS hologram types are deduced from theoretical considerations and confirmed by experiments.     

Zero-phonon linewidth in CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanorods

High-resolution spectral hole-burning studies of CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanorods reveal a sharp zero-phonon line, with a line width dependent on the measurement time scale. The zero-phonon line width is attributed to contributions from radiative decay, spectral diffusion induced by surface electric field fluctuations, and phonon-assisted migration of excitons localized in the nanorods. A decoherence rate as small as 4.5 GHz has been observed, when the effects of spectral diffusion are suppressed in the spectral hole-burning measurement. Comparison between zero-phonon line widths in nanorods and spherical nanocrystals also elucidates important differences in the decoherence process between the one- and zero-dimensional nanostructures.     

Rendering of specular surfaces in polygon-based computer-generated holograms

A technique is presented for realistic rendering in polygon-based computer-generated holograms (CGHs). In this technique, the spatial spectrum of the reflected light is modified to imitate specular reflection. The spectral envelopes of the reflected light are fitted to a spectral shape based on the Phong reflection model used in computer graphics. The technique features fast computation of the field of objects, composed of many specular polygons, and is applicable to creating high-definition CGHs with several billions of pixels. An actual high-definition CGH is created using the proposed technique and is demonstrated for verification of the optical reconstruction of specular surfaces.     

Pixelated phase computer holograms for the accurate encoding of scalar complex fields

We discuss a class of phase computer-generated holograms for the encoding of arbitrary scalar complex fields. We describe two holograms of this class that allow high quality reconstruction of the encoded field, even if they are implemented with a low-resolution pixelated phase modulator. In addition, we show that one of these holograms can be appropriately implemented with a phase modulator limited by a reduced phase depth.     

Improvement of color reproduction in color digital holography by using spectral estimation technique

We propose a color digital holography by using spectral estimation technique to improve the color reproduction of objects. In conventional color digital holography, there is insufficient spectral information in holograms, and the color of the reconstructed images depend on only reflectances at three discrete wavelengths used in the recording of holograms. Therefore the color-composite image of the three reconstructed images is not accurate in color reproduction. However, in our proposed method, the spectral estimation technique was applied, which has been reported in multispectral imaging. According to the spectral estimation technique, the continuous spectrum of object can be estimated and the color reproduction is improved. The effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed by a numerical simulation and an experiment, and, in the results, the average color differences are decreased from 35.81 to 7.88 and from 43.60 to 25.28, respectively.     

Pulsed digital holography for high-speed contouring that uses a two-wavelength method

A two-wavelength method for a fast shape measurement by use of a pulsed ruby laser is presented. The wavelength change is produced by alteration of the distance between the plates of the laser's output etalon. One plate of the etalon is mounted on a vibrating piezoelectric element; this allows a fast wavelength change. Two holograms at different wavelengths are recorded in a few microseconds by use of a CCD. The holograms are reconstructed digitally, and the wave-front phase is calculated. The shape is obtained by subtraction of the phases of the wave fronts recorded at different wavelengths. Environmental disturbances at low frequencies, such as air turbulence, vibrations, and object drift, have no influence on the measurement. Experimental results are presented.     

Holographic optical elements recorded in silver halide sensitized gelatin emulsions. Part 2. Reflection holographic optical elements

Silver halide sensitized gelatin (SHSG) holograms are similar to holograms recorded in dichromated gelatin (DCG), the main recording material for holographic optical elements (HOEs). The drawback of DCG is its low energetic sensitivity and limited spectral response. Silver halide materials can be processed in such away that the final hologram will have properties like a DCG hologram. Recently this technique has become more interesting since the introduction of new ultra-fine-grain silver halide (AgHal) emulsions. In particular, high spatial-frequency fringes associated with HOEs of the reflection type are difficult to construct when SHSG processing methods are employed. Therefore an optimized processing technique for reflection HOEs recorded in the new AgHal materials is introduced. Diffraction efficiencies over 90% can be obtained repeatably for reflection diffraction gratings. Understanding the importance of a selective hardening process has made it possible to obtain results similar to conventional DCG processing. The main advantage of the SHSG process is that high-sensitivity recording can be performed with laser wavelengths anywhere within the visible spectrum. This simplifies the manufacturing of high-quality, large-format HOEs, also including high-quality display holograms of the reflection type in both monochrome and full color.     

Focus detection from digital in-line holograms based on spectral l1 norms

A rapid focus-detection technique based directly on the spectral content of digital holograms is developed. It differs from previous approaches in that it does not need a full reconstruction of the image. The technique uses l(1) norms of object spectral components associated with the real and imaginary parts of the reconstruction kernel. Further, the l(1) norms can be computed efficiently in the spatial frequency domain using a polar coordinate system, yielding a drastic speedup of approximately 2 orders of magnitude compared with image-based focus detection. Significant computational savings are achieved when subsequent image reconstructions are done selectively over the detected focus distances. Focus-detection results from holograms of plankton are demonstrated that show the technique is both accurate and robust.     

Holographic optical elements recorded in silver halide sensitized gelatin emulsions. Part I. Transmission holographic optical elements

Silver halide sensitized gelatin (SHSG) holograms are similar to holograms recorded in dichromated gelatin (DCG), the main recording material for holographic optical elements (HOE's). The drawback of DCG is its low sensitivity and limited spectral response. Silver halide materials can be processed in such a way that the final hologram will have properties like a DCG hologram. Recently this technique has become more interesting since the introduction of new ultra-high-resolution silver halide emulsions. An optimized processing technique for transmission HOE's recorded in these materials is introduced. Diffraction efficiencies over 90% can be obtained for transmissive diffraction gratings. Understanding the importance of the selective hardening process has made it possible to obtain results similar to conventional DCG processing. The main advantage of the SHSG process is that high-sensitivity recording can be performed with laser wavelengths anywhere within the visible spectrum. This simplifies the manufacturing of high-quality, large-format HOE's.     

Temporal phase unwrapping of digital hologram sequences

A method for recording and evaluating digital image-plane holograms is presented. Hundreds of holograms of an object that has been subjected to dynamic deformation (e.g., vibrations) are recorded. The phase of the wave front is calculated from the recorded holograms by use of a two-dimensional digital Fourier-transform method. By temporal phase unwrapping it is possible to determine the absolute deformation (included the direction of motion) of the object. Experimental results are presented, and the advantages of temporal phase unwrapping compared with spatial phase unwrapping are discussed.     

Bandwidth in Dichromated Gelatin Holographic Filters

Refractive volume gratings in dichromated gelatin film have been studied. The swelling of the emulsion during developing leads to displacement of the interference fringes from the positions observed for the exposure set-up and the fringes are smoothly curved rather than irregular. The effects of the displacement are studied in exposed and developed holograms by examining the reconstruction angle and spectral bandwidth when using white light reconstruction. The influence of construction geometry and absorption on spectral bandwidth is illustrated with experimental results.     

Diffuse-object holograms in silver halide emulsions: influence of the beam ratio on the efficiency and the signal-to-noise ratio

The influence of the beam ratio between reference and object beam intensities on the characteristics of diffuse-object holograms recorded as volume phase holograms in bleached silver halide emulsion is experimentally analyzed. Measurements of the diffraction efficiency and the signal-to-noise ratio of the holograms are taken. The experimental results presented show that when the beam ratio increases, the diffraction efficiency decreases and the signal-to-noise ratio increases; these two holographic parameters behave in this way no matter what type of processing is used.     

Optimization of a fixation-free rehalogenating bleach for BB-640 holographic emulsion

Abstract

Fixation-free rehalogenating bleaching is an interesting for the production of phase holograms. The shrinkage of the emulsion is reduced in comparison with other bleaching methods (reversal bleaching or rehalogenating bleaching with fixation). In this paper we present experimental results for fixation-free rehalogenating bleached holograms derived from the novel BB-640, a red-sensitive ultra-fine grain emulsion from Holographic Recording Technologies. The influence of the potassium bromide concentration in the bleach solution on the final quality of the holograms is also studied. The concentrations of the different components of the bleach solution are adjusted to obtain the highest values of diffraction efficiency. We show that really high diffraction efficiencies can be obtained, as high as 84%, when fixation-free rehalogenating bleached holograms are recorded on BB-640 plates.     

Two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and gray-scale images reconstructed from computer-generated holograms designed by use of a direct-search method

A direct-search method for the computer design of holograms is demonstrated. Two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and containing holograms with different levels of intensity (gray scales) were designed, fabricated, and optically reconstructed. The number of effective gray levels and the image-intensity noise and contrast are discussed. A modification of the state-variables cost function used in the direct-search algorithm that permits reliable control of gray scales is presented. Optical reconstructions of two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and gray-scale binary phase computer-generated holograms are presented.     

Hartley holograms

Binary holograms have become more interesting since spatial light modulators, capable of binary phase modulation, were developed. The primary restriction of these dynamic elements when used with the Fourier transform is the symmetry of the hologram reconstruction. I describe a new type of hologram that uses the Hartley transform instead of the Fourier transform. Despite their binary form, Hartley holograms offer maximal efficiency (theoretically 100%). Thus they can be presented as high diffraction-efficiency programmable elements. For practical reasons, I also propose a modified version for Hartley holograms that is easy to use. A theoretical analysis as well as experimental results are given.     

Multiplexed counter-beam speckle holograms in bichromated gelatin

Experimental data on the recording and multiplexing of shifted counter-beam holograms with a speckle reference beam are presented. The experiment confirmed the possibility of multiplexing shear speckle holograms by shifting the photosensitive material by a distance equal to the reference beam speckle size. As the number of multiplexed holograms increases, their lifetime in a layer of bichromated gelatin significantly decreases.     

Performance comparison of iterative algorithms for generating digital correlation holograms used in optical security systems

An optical security system based on a correlation between two separate binary computer-generated holograms has been developed and experimentally tested. The two holograms are designed using two different iterative algorithms: the projection- onto constrained sets algorithm and the direct binary search (DBS) algorithm. By placing the ready-to-use holograms on a modified joint transform correlator input plane, an output image is constructed as a result of a spatial correlation between the two functions coded by the holograms. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the system's performance. While we concentrate mainly on the DBS algorithm, we also compare the performance of both algorithms.     

Controlling the spectral response in guided-mode resonance filter design

Techniques for controlling spectral width are used in conjunction with thin-film techniques in the design of guided-mode resonance (GMR) filters to provide simultaneous control over line-shape symmetry, sideband levels, and spectral width. Several factors that could limit the minimum spectral width are discussed. We used interference effects for passband shaping by stacking multiple GMR filters on top of one another. A design is presented for a 200-GHz telecommunications filter along with a tolerance analysis. Compared with a conventional thin-film filter, the GMR filter has fewer layers and looser thickness tolerances. Grating fabrication tolerances are also discussed.     

Spatial-spectral volume holographic systems: resolution dependence on effective thickness

The resolution dependence of spatial-spectral volume holographic imaging systems on angular and spectral bandwidth of nonuniform gratings is investigated. Modeling techniques include a combination of the approximate coupled-wave analysis and the transfer-matrix method for holograms recorded in absorptive media. The effective thickness of the holograms is used as an estimator of the resolution of the imaging systems. The methodology, which assists in the design and optimization of volume holographic simulation results based on our approach, are confirmed with experiments and show proof of consistency and usefulness of the proposed models.     

Multiband wavelength-division demultiplexing with a cascaded substrate-mode grating structure

A multiband wavelength-division-demultiplexing (WDDM) structure, which incorporates cascaded substrate-mode holograms, is presented. The method can be used to design a WDDM device that consists of two or more layers of fundamental units (i.e., substrate-mode holograms). The fundamental unit is based on a diffracted grating and a substrate that include angular dispersion, wavelength bandwidth, and total internal reflection, which can be used to separate optical signals of different wavelengths. We have designed and built a multiband WDDM device, incorporating cascaded substrate-mode holograms in dichromated gelatin.