Discrete magnitude-squared channel modeling, equalization, and detection for volume holographic storage channels

As storage density increases, the performance of volume holographic storage channels is degraded, because intersymbol interference and noise also increase. Equalization and detection methods must be employed to mitigate the effects of intersignal interference and noise. However, the output detector array in a holographic storage system detects the intensity of the incident light's wave front, leading to loss of sign information. This sign loss precludes the applicability of conventional equalization and detection schemes. We first address channel modeling under quadratic nonlinearity and develop an efficient model named the discrete magnitude-squared channel model. We next introduce an advanced equalization method called the iterative magnitude-squared decision feedback equalization (IMSDFE), which takes the channel nonlinearity into account. The performance of IMSDFE is quantified for optical-noise-dominated channels as well as for electronic-noise-dominated channels. Results indicate that IMSDFE is a good candidate for a high-density, high-intersignal-interference volume holographic storage channel.     

Optical compensation of hologram distortion avoiding interpage crosstalk on reconstructed image in angle-multiplexed holograms

We are studying a form of holographic data storage with phase conjugation, and we compensated for hologram distortion due to shrinkage of photopolymer materials in the holographic medium by controlling the wavefront of the reference beam. When a high NA lens and narrow angle interval of angle multiplexing are employed to obtain a high data recording density, some wavefronts cause interpage crosstalk on the reconstructed image. We tried to determine the moving range of actuators in a deformable mirror for controlling the wavefront. As a result, we found that the distortion in the hologram could be compensated while avoiding interpage crosstalk and that the bit error rates of the reproduced data could be decreased. We also found that the optimized wavefront could compensate for distortions in several neighboring data pages. This method can ensure a high data recording density in holographic data storage.     

Storage density of shift-multiplexed holographic memory

The storage density of shift-multiplexed holographic memory is calculated and compared with experimentally achieved densities by use of photorefractive and write-once materials. We consider holographic selectivity as well as the recording material's dynamic range (M/#) and required diffraction efficiencies in formulating the calculations of storage densities, thereby taking into account all major factors limiting the raw storage density achievable with shift-multiplexed holographic storage systems. We show that the M/# is the key factor in limiting storage densities rather than the recording material's thickness for organic materials in which the scatter is relatively high. A storage density of 100 bits/mum(2) is experimentally demonstrated by use of a 1-mm-thick LiNbO(3) crystal as the recording medium.     

Security optical data storage in Fourier holograms

We have proposed and demonstrated a holographic security storage system that is implemented with a shift multiplexing technique. The security function of this storage system is achieved by using a microdiffuser (MD) for random phase encoding of the reference beams. The apparatus of random phase encoding in this system offers an additional and flexible function during the recording processes. The system can generate holographic security memory or nonsecurity holographic memory via using the MD or not. The storage capacity and the average signal-to-noise value of the security storage system are 16 bits/μm(2) and 3.5, respectively. Lateral shifting selectivity in this holographic security storage system is theoretically analyzed and experimentally investigated.     

Sparse-wavelength angle-multiplexed volume holographic memory system: analysis and advances

We present and analyze our hybrid wavelength-and-angle-multiplexed volume holographic memory system. The hybridization of wavelength and angle multiplexing relaxes demands on spectral-tuning sources, angle-tuning devices, and optical system numerical apertures while maintaining a large K-space addressability. We consider realistic properties of our volume holographic memory system, addressing practical issues such as storage density and material-dependent photon-limited information throughput. Finally, we present experimental results of the storage of 2000 sparse-wavelength angle-multiplexed volume holograms in a 1.86-cm3 volume of lithium niobate.     

Paradigms for bit-oriented holographic information storage

One of the difficulties encountered during the many years of research on holographic information storage was the lack of an easy theoretical way to assess proposed paradigms. I exploit the fact that for bit-oriented holographic storage, Gaussian beams are usually involved. For this case I show that the reconstructed wave can be represented as a superposition of simple Gaussian beams, regardless of the exact recording condition, and a virtual source for this wave can be determined. This theoretical result is used to explore several holographic storage architectures, in particular thick volume holograms and layered volume holograms. Simulation results demonstrate the power of the method, show good correspondence with earlier experimental studies, and provide clues for further developments.     

Angle-multiplexed holographic data storage with minimum cross talk noise

The cross talk noise-to-signal ratio (NSR) of an angle-multiplexed holographic data storage system is studied, and we propose a method to determine the optimized multiplexing spacing with which the cross talk noise can be less than the conventional method. In our method, the optimization location at the image plane can be chosen arbitrarily, so the multiplexing of asymmetrical image patterns can be optimized. In particular, we investigate the 90° scheme and the transmission scheme angle multiplexing. For the 90° scheme, a holographic medium with a higher refractive index is recommended for cross talk-limited multiplexing. For the transmission scheme, a holographic medium with a lower refractive index is recommended for angular range-limited multiplexing. In addition, for the transmission scheme, a larger angle between the object arm and the reference arm results in less cross talk noise, whereas the highest storage density is achieved at a 45° angle.     

Homogenized Fourier transform holographic data storage using phase spatial light modulators and methods for recovery of data from the phase image

We present a method for homogenizing the Fourier spectrum for holographic digital data storage by use of a phase spatial light modulator (SLM), and methods for the recovery of data from a phase image are implemented and discussed. Binary digital data are displayed on a phase SLM operating in 0 and pi phase modes to optimally remove the intense dc peak so as to obtain a homogenized Fourier spectrum. Methods based on holographic interferometry have been developed and employed for recovery of the original amplitude data page from the phase-data page. A new edge-detection-based method also has been demonstrated and analyzed for reconstruction of the original data. Experimental results are presented to confirm the feasibility of these novel techniques.     

一种基于聚乙烯醇/丙烯酸-2-羟基乙酯的新型全息存储材料

本文研究了一种基于聚乙烯醇/丙烯酸-2-羟基乙酯的新型全息存储材料;研究了不同浓度的丙烯酸-2-羟基乙酯对光聚物材料衍射效率的影响;在厚度为95μm的光聚物薄膜中当曝光能量为231mJ/cm2时获得了近75%的高衍射效率。应用Matlab软件以光化学漂白理论、角度响应曲线理论为拟合模型,进行了基于Levenberg-Marquardt算法的非线性曲线拟合;通过非线性曲线拟合研究了不同浓度的丙烯酸-2-羟基乙酯对摩尔吸收系数、量子产率、折射率调制度、光聚物薄膜厚度等多个全息参数的影响;实验表明,丙烯酸-2-羟基乙酯的加入可有效增加光聚物薄膜的厚度并且改善光聚物薄膜的结构和性能,达到提升聚乙烯醇/丙烯酰胺光聚物初始材料的全息特性,改进光聚物材料全息光学数据存储容量的目地。     

Two-Color Holographic Recording Scheme Allowing Nonvolatile Reading in Mn:YAlO(3)

We propose and experimentally realize the recording of two-color holographic gratings in Mn:YAlO(3), a potential material for holographic data storage. This type of recording allows for nonvolatile retrieval of recorded information at the recording wavelength. We demonstrate two-color recording and readout of a 256 x 256 pixel page using red and green laser beams with a bit error rate of 6 x 10(-7).     

Thermally assisted recording of holographic gratings in semicrystalline azobenzene-containing polymers

We examine optically induced birefringence in semicrystalline azopolymer films that are held at glass-transition temperature Tg. The birefringence increases markedly after interception of the pump beam; the saturation value depends on exposure time. In addition, the induced birefringence is completely erased by irradiation with a circularly polarized beam at Tg. Using this thermally assisted method, we demonstrate the holographic recording of a test image. The intensity of the diffracted beam also increases after interception of the writing beams. Furthermore, the retrieved image is found to have a resolution of approximately 30 lp/mm. This resolution is comparable with that of the optical setup that is used. Accordingly, the thermally assisted recording by use of semicrystalline azopolymers is a promising method for reversible holographic storage.     

Experimental study of the effects of a six-level phase mask on a digital holographic storage system

We measure the M/# and the bit-error rate of a digital holographic storage system with a 4f optical arrangement for three configurations: recording at the Fourier plane with and without a phase mask and recording outside the Fourier plane without a phase mask. Unexpectedly, no significant change in the dynamic range was observed when a phase mask was used to record in thick crystals. However, we show that a phase mask is a key component in a 4f digital holographic storage system if high-fidelity holograms with optimum volumetric density are to be stored.     

Coaxial holographic encoding based on pure phase modulation

We describe a simple technique for coaxial holographic image recording and reconstruction, employing a spatial light modulator (SLM) modified in pure phase mode. In the image encoding system, both the reference beam in the outside part and the signal beam in the inside part are displayed by an SLM based on the twisted nematic LCD. For a binary image, the part with amplitude of "1" is modulated with random phase, while the part with amplitude of "0" is modulated with constant phase. After blocking the dc component of the spatial frequencies, a Fourier transform (FT) hologram is recorded with a uniform intensity distribution. The amplitude image is reconstructed by illuminating the reference beam onto the hologram, which is much simpler than existing phase modulated FT holography techniques. The technique of coaxial holographic image encoding and recovering with pure phase modulation is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally in this paper. As the holograms are recorded without the high-intensity dc component, the storage density with volume medium may be increased with the increase of dynamic range. Such a simple modulation method will have potential applications in areas such as holographic encryption and high-density disk storage systems.     

Thermal fixing of 10,000 Holograms in LiNbO3:Fe

We discuss thermal fixing as a solution to the volatility problem in holographic storage systems that use photorefractive materials such as LiNbO(3):Fe. We present a systematic study to characterize the effect of thermal fixing on the error performance of a large-scale holographic memory. We introduce a novel, to our knowledge, incremental fixing schedule to improve the overall system fixing efficiency. We thermally fixed 10,000 holograms in a 90 degrees -geometry setup by using this new schedule. All the fixed holograms were retrieved with no errors.     

Orthogonal aperture multiplexing for multilayered waveguide holographic read-only memories

A multilayered waveguide holographic read-only memory is a promising candidate for the next generation of optical data storage systems. We improved the data density of the memory by using a multiplexing method with a set of orthogonal optical masks. We multiplexed as many as nine images into one waveguide hologram, and all the observed images had negligible cross talk. This made it possible to achieve a ninefold increase in data density. We provide experimental results for both metallic and liquid-crystal masks.     

A precision tester for studies of holographic optical storage materials and recording physics

The design and the realization of an advanced precision optical test stand for evaluating materials and developing tools and techniques for holographic digital data storage are described. This apparatus allows studies of holographic recording materials and recording physics to be performed in the context of practical data storage. The system concept, its implementation, and its performance are described, and examples of holographic storage in photorefractive materials are discussed.     

Compact holographic storage demonstrator with rapid access

We discuss the design of a complete, compact holographic storage demonstrator based on a combination of spatial and angular multiplexing and using acousto-optic deflectors for rapid nonmechanical access. We also describe the implementation of this design and preliminary results of both the analog storage and the retrieval of 20,000 holograms in twenty 1-mm-thick layers of a lithium niobate crystal and of the digital storage and error-free retrieval of color images by using error-correcting techniques.     

Performance analysis of content-addressable search and bit-error rate characteristics of a defocused volume holographic data storage system

One of the methods for smoothing the high intensity dc peak in the Fourier spectrum for reducing the reconstruction error in a Fourier transform volume holographic data storage system is to record holograms some distance away from or in front of the Fourier plane. We present the results of our investigation on the performance of such a defocused holographic data storage system in terms of bit-error rate and content search capability. We have evaluated the relevant recording geometry through numerical simulation, by obtaining the intensity distribution at the output detector plane. This has been done by studying the bit-error rate and the content search capability as a function of the aperture size and position of the recording material away from the Fourier plane.     

Time-domain frequency-selective processing in nuclear magnetic resonance: a spatial-spectral holographic perspective

The fundamental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging equation can be derived from a spatial-spectral holographic wavefront reconstruction formulation similar to that in quantum optics. A spatial-spectral holographic interpretation arises naturally in NMR from the inhomogeneous linewidth broadening due to either an imposed set of linear orthogonal gradient fields or from the intrinsic chemical anisotropy of the spin system. We can thus think of NMR k-space as a spatial-spectral holographic grating. The spatial holographic component arises from dielectric effects at high field strength (>4 T) when the excitation wavelength is less than or commensurate with the size of the imaging sample. The holographic properties of storage, time-reversal, recognition, and triple correlations are experimentally demonstrated in an inhomogeneously broadened NMR sample. This holographic NMR interpretation has additional implications on selective radio-frequency pulse design, microscopy imaging, and the use of conjugate imaging for field inhomogeneity corrections using the time-reversed component of the readout, to be the subject of a subsequent paper.     

Holographic lens recorded on photopolymers: fabrication and study of the image quality

In recent years, holographic optical elements have been introduced in different applications such as high-density data storage, interconnections, spatial and temporal filters and three-dimensional displays. Simultaneously, more sensitive, efficient and durable holographic materials have been developed. Thus it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of these elements in the holographic materials developed. In this paper a method to obtain holographic lenses in a photopolymer is presented. In order to obtain, reconstruct and analyze these lenses, an optical device was designed. Once the holographic lenses are obtained, the device allows us to capture the images provided by these lenses. The imaging quality of these lenses was evaluated by means of the modulation transfer function (MTF) and the contrast. Lenses of different focal lengths were recorded. The holographic lenses obtained had high diffraction efficiency and temporal stability. Moreover, the resolution was greater than that of other lenses with the same diaphragm number.