Abstract

The basic problem in digital Fourier holography is the calculation and fabrication of a thin diffractive structure - the digital hologram - which possesses a special Fraunhofer diffraction pattern. We call the diffracted light distribution signal and indicate it with f(x). Because f(x) is the Fraunhofer spectrum of the hologram transmittance F(u), we have the Fourier relationship Computer calculation of this equation results in a sampled version of F(u). In general the calculated data set is complex valued and analogous, i.e. the fabricated diffractive structure has to control the amplitude and the phase of the illuminating wave in an analogous manner. The fabrication of such a structure is very difficult.

© 1989 Optical Society of America