Construction of high-quality narrow-band holographic filters

We have studied the factors limiting the quality of holographic notch filters. We have employed a novel recording scheme in which the sample is translated during exposure, eliminating flare due to reflections at the boundaries, and simultaneously reducing the scatter of the final hologram. We have also refined a gravity-settling dichromated gelatine (DCG) deposition technique and incorporated hardening of the DCG layers during the drying stage. With this, we have produced high optical quality, uniform, flare-free DCG filters with an optical density, OD > 5, bandwidth < 20 nm and scatter almost as low as that for state of the art dielectric notch filters.