Abstract

The generation of holograms using a computer offers flexibility for data storage and display. The major problems, however, are the calculation of the optical field in the hologram plane, which is usually performed by a simulation of the wave propagation between the object and the hologram planes and the coding of complex values into a real transmittance. To calculate the field, the algorithms most often used are the fast Fourier transform and the Fresnel zone plate. Both of them assume a decomposition (sampling) of the object into points (pixels). This implies limitations, e.g., in the overall number of object pixels. To overcome this, a procedure is suggested using lines of finite length as the basic elements. The wave propagation is described analytically for arbitrary orientations and lengths of the line segments and a wave propagation toward the hologram. The result is a conical wave which is coded in the hologram by calculating the superposition of an in-line reference wave. Optical reconstructions demonstrate the feasibility of the procedure.

© 1985 Optical Society of America