Investigation of the spectral selectivity of volume holograms with femtosecond pulsed radiation

A method for studying the parameters of high-selectivity volume holograms and photonic crystal structures using ultrashort pulsed radiation in a wide spectral range is developed. The experimental system and measurement procedure are described. The results of determination of the diffraction efficiency and spectral selectivity of holographic gratings with spatial frequencies of 360 and 640 mm^?1 are presented. The parameters of the holograms determined by the method proposed and by the conventional techniques based on the use of continuous laser radiation are found to coincide.     

Diffraction efficiency of localized holograms in doubly doped LiNbO(3) crystals

The diffraction efficiency of M holograms superimposed in the volume of the recording medium is proportional to 1/M(2). We present a method, based on nondestructive localized holograms in a doubly doped LiNbO(3) crystal, that allows us to also record M holograms in the same volume without an exposure schedule or a diffraction efficiency that has 1/M dependence. We compare experimentally the final diffraction efficiency obtained with the localized and distributed recording methods.     

Role of recording geometry in the performance of spectral diversity filters with spherical beam volume holograms

We present experimental demonstrations of spectral diversity filters with spherical beam volume holograms for multimodal multiplex spectroscopy. Major properties of filters under diffuse-light illumination are discussed. The comparisons of spectral diversity between the transmission geometry holograms and the reflection geometry holograms are also studied. The results show that there is a trade-off between the degree of the spatial coherence of the source and the spectral diversity of the filter. We also conclude that the reflection geometry holograms have better spectral diversity and less sensitivity to the spatial coherence of the source.     

Computer-generated volume holograms fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining

We define computer-generated volume holograms (CGVHs) as arbitrary 3D refractive index modulations designed to perform optical functions based on diffraction, scattering, and interference phenomena. CGVHs can differ dramatically from classical volume holograms in terms of coding possibilities, and from thin computer-generated holograms in terms of efficiency and selectivity. We propose an encoding technique for designing such holograms and demonstrate the concept by scanning focused femtosecond laser pulses to produce localized refractive index modifications in glass. These CGVHs show a significant increase in efficiency with thickness. Consequently, they are attractive for photonic integration with free-space and guided-wave devices, as well as for encoding spatial and temporal information.     

Thick holograms: a survey

Many workers are turning away from holograms made with thin photographic emulsions and are investigating ‘thick’ holograms, with their exciting potential of high diffraction efficiency, increased information storage capacity, reduced noise, and increased spectral or angular discrimination. This article discusses the principles of thick hologram theory, and describes some of the materials which can be used as thick recording media. Advantages and limitations of thick holograms are illustrated by experimental examples. The article concludes with a survey of the existing and future applications for thick holograms.     

Effective room-temperature broad-band recording of 3D dynamic holograms in CdF<Subscript>2</Subscript>:Ga crystals

Photochromic CdF₂:Ga crystals with bistable impurity centers were effectively used for the dynamic recording of holograms and readout over the visible and near IR spectral regions at spatial frequencies of up to 5000 mm^?1 at room temperature. The diffraction efficiency of the dynamic holograms was as high as 60% at maximum and exceeded 1% when the beams’ intensities were in the ratio 1:100. As one goes from the low temperatures (≤200 K) to 300 K, the peak diffraction efficiency of the dynamic holograms decreases approximately by a factor of 1.5, while the speed of their response and photosensitivity in the long-wavelength spectral region increases by more than an order of magnitude. For the sake of comparison, the dynamic holograms were recorded under the same conditions as the widely used electrooptical SBN crystals. Comparative analysis ascertained a unique combination of the useful features offered by CdF₂:Ga crystals in holography.     

Holograms recorded in extremely thick photographic emulsions

From a special 34 μm thick photographic emulsion, high diffraction efficiency holograms with a thickness around 400 μm have been prepared by the technique of swelling and thereafter stabilized, for periods of months or even years, with glycerol in a sealed liquid gate. Data on diffraction efficiency and scattered flux are given. This type of hologram has been developed as a special tool for studies of the influence of various parameters on the storage capacity of volume holograms.     

Selective properties of volume phase holograms in photorefractive crystals

The paper deals with the selective properties (both angular and spectral) of volume phase holograms in birefringent and cubic optically active photorefractive crystals. It is shown that in birefringent crystals of LiNbO₃ type, the spectral selectivity of the grating depends remarkably on the type of diffraction (isotropic or anisotropic) and the polarization of the reconstructing plane light wave. In cubic optically active crystals the peculiarities of diffraction reveal themselves in a fine structure of differently polarized peaks in the Bragg maximum that can be easily observed, in particular in Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ samples with a thickness d ≈ 8 mm.     

Recording volume holograms on color centers in a CaF2 crystal

The conditions for preparing photochromic CaF₂ crystals, recording holograms with 532-nm radiation in them, and postexposure photothermal treatment of samples with holograms that provide the formation of holographic elements of significant thickness (about 1 cm) are considered. It is shown that the diffraction efficiency of volume holograms in such crystals in the case of reading out by radiation with wave-lengths of 532 and 632.8 nm can be as high as 10–15%. The role of the recording mechanism and the Borrmann effect in the fabrication of these holograms is demonstrated.     

Polarization volume holograms in layers of polymethylmethacrylate with phenanthrenequinone

Polarization volume holograms are recorded in the polymethylmethacrylate layers that contain phenanthrenequinone at a molar content of 2.5–3%. The effect of the polarization of recording beams on the kinetics of diffraction efficiency and properties of holograms is analyzed. Polarization hologram recording in the polymethylmethacrylate layers with phenanthrenequinone and a relatively high optical stability of the holograms are demonstrated.     

Digital holographic tomography based on spectral interferometry

A digital holographic tomography system has been developed with the use of an inexpensive broadband light source and a fiber-based spectral interferometer. Multiple synthesized holograms (or object wave fields) of different wavelengths are obtained by transversely scanning a probe beam. The acquisition speed is improved compared with conventional wavelength-scanning digital holographic systems. The optical field of a volume around the object location is calculated by numerical diffraction from each synthesized hologram, and all such field volumes are numerically superposed to create the three-dimensional tomographic image. Experiments were performed to demonstrate the idea.     

Mode theory of three-dimensional superposed holograms: II. The wave field arising from the reconstruction of a superposed hologram

The wave field arising in the volume of superposed holograms is obtained with allowance for multiple wave diffraction on holographic cross-modulation gratings. It is shown that cross-talk interference waves are generated as a result of multiple diffraction, and their intensity depends on the degree of mutual orthogonality of hologram object waves.     

Electric field selectivity and multiplexing of volume holograms in LiNbO3

Theoretical and experimental investigations of electric field multiplexing and selectivity of reflection volume holograms in LiNbO₃ are reported. Recording of at least five holograms is demonstrated. Equivalent spectral selectivity (5Ƽ.5 pm for the case of three electrically tunable holograms and (5ǁ pm for the case of five electrically tunable holograms are estimated.     

Non linear recording in silver halide planar volume holograms

A series of bromine-vapour bleached, planar, volume holograms were formed in silver halide emulsion. The holograms were characterised by measuring the variation in intensity of the transmitted replaying beam with angles at several wavelengths. The results were investigated using coupled-wave theory, allowing for the existence of grating harmonics and higher diffraction orders. The effects of first, second and third grating harmonics were found in the experimental results. Modulation profiles synthesised using the results suggested the presence of a small fourth harmonic in the higher exposure holograms.     

菲涅耳数字全息成像系统的脉冲响应分析

数字全息成像由CCD记录数字全息图后经过计算机数值重建物光波场,这个过程从傅里叶变换角度看等同于数字全息图的频谱分析。讨论了数字成像系统的脉冲响应函数,并分别推导了其实像、虚像、零级像在平面波和球面波照射下的波前复振幅分布。结果表明,实像和虚像是移位的夫琅和费衍射分布,而零级像是CCD光瞳的菲涅耳衍射分布,且与参考光波前分布无关。     

Diffraction efficiency of volume holograms

In this paper we give an exact solution of the coupled differential equation system as developed by Kogelnik [1] for the case of symmetrical recording without neglecting the second differentials. This generalized solution is applicable to dielectric, absorption and so-called mixed volume holograms. It is shown that under special assumptions and approximations we get the same equations for the diffraction efficiency as derived by Kogelnik. In this first part of the paper transmission holograms are only investigated and in the second part we will give the solution for reflection holograms.     

Multifunctional and compact spectrometers based on cylindrical beam volume holograms

We propose a new class of slitless spectrometers using cylindrical beam volume holograms. These holograms disperse an input beam in one direction in an output plane while they do not affect the beam in the perpendicular direction. We show that the spectral mapping of the input beam can be obtained in one direction and the beam can be independently modified in the perpendicular direction. Using this unique property, we demonstrate a spectral wrapping technique to considerably increase the operation spectral range of the slitless spectrometers, without sacrificing their resolution.     

在光致聚合物中采用脉冲激光记录全息图的记录条件研究

在蓝绿敏光致聚合物材料中,用532 nm激光器作为光源,在等光强不同重复频率和等重复频率不同光强条件下分别进行全息记录,用红光进行动态读出,获得两种记录条件下的衍射效率曲线.实验结果表明,在近连续脉冲光下进行全息记录时,较低重复频率和较低光强的脉冲激光能够明显提高光致聚合物光栅的最高衍射效率,通过优化脉冲激光的重复频率和平均光强,可以在材料中记录衍射效率最高的全息图.     

绿敏光致聚合物的制备及其光全息存储性能研究

报导了一种新型的对绿光敏感的光致聚合物材料。该材料以丙烯酰胺为单体，由光引发剂，共引发剂，成膜物等组成。本材料记录的全息图衍射效率可达55％。在光聚物上采用角度复用技术存储了10幅图像，得到的再现像信噪比较高。说明该材料适合于大容量体全息存储。     

Efficient and flexible laser beam scanners constructed from volume holograms

We combine the scan flexibility of computer-generated holographic laser beam scanners with the high diffraction efficiency of volume phase holograms to produce a new type of “holo-scanner”. The scanner-hologram consists of numerous, small, volume hologram facets recorded in dichromated gelatin films and produces an arbitrary output pattern with greater than 90% light efficiency. Experimental results from discrete point, continuous line, and 3-D scanners are shown. Multi-wavelength scanners are also considered. This paper is based on the concepts presented in the preceding paper on “computer-interferometric holograms used for laser beam scanners”.