THEORY OF HOLOGRAPHY
Abstract
The holographic process is studied from the point of view of a thick hologram. The theoretical analysis is reduced to a diffraction grating problem. The hologram takes the form of a grating in the sense that the initial exposing field induces in the emulsion a sinusoidal distribution of particles extending over a 3 dimensional array which in turn diffracts the applied illumination field. Both the initial exposing field and illumination field are assumed to consist of a sum of plane waves. The amplitude, phase, and direction of the first order diffracted wave is calculated for an individual plane wave and the results summed coherently for a sum of plane waves. Multiple scattering is neglected. In comparison with previous thick hologram analyses, the present study includes the following additional factors: the applied illumination can have arbitrary directions, attenuation and reflection losses are included. In comparison with the thin hologram transmittance analyses, it was found that the results are equivalent as far as direction and phase of the diffracted beams are concerned. The duplication of holograms is studied in terms of making a hologram of a hologram rather than in terms of making a contact print. Both transmission and reflection holograms are investigated. Certain of the theoretical results were compared with experimental studies of a holographic diffraction grating with good agreement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0667189
Entities
People
- John W. Matthews
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology