Wavelength-multiplexed computer-generated volume holography

Wavefront shaping optical elements recorded in photo-thermo-refractive glass

The paper presents an overview of the benefits of recording phase masks into the bulk of photo-thermo-refractive glass. We demonstrate that both binary and gray-scale phase masks can be encoded into the medium, and that such masks can be used for mode conversion and beam shaping with near-theoretical efficiency. We further demonstrate that by encoding the phase mask profile into a transmitting volume Bragg grating, it is possible to create tunable and achromatic phase masks without requiring a complex phase pattern.

Achromatic complex holograms for laser mode conversion

While conventional complex phase masks are chromatic, we present an achromatic holographic phase mask capable of performing optical beam transformations in a spectral range exceeding 1000 nm. The system consists of a holographic phase mask fabricated by encoding the desired phase profiles into volume Bragg gratings, inserted in between two surface gratings. This device automatically adjusts each spectral component diffracted by the surface grating to the Bragg angle of the volume Bragg grating and equalizes phase incursion for all diffracted wavelengths. Transverse mode conversion is demonstrated and compared with theory for multiple narrow line laser sources operating from 488 to 1550 nm and for a broadband femtosecond source.

Direct rapid-prototyping fabrication of computer-generated volume holograms in the millimeter-wave and terahertz regime

Computer-generated volume holograms (CGVHs) are gradient refractive index (GRIN) devices that consist of a superposition of multiple periodic diffraction gratings. Fabrication of these components for the visible range is difficult due to the small length-scale requirements but is more tenable in the terahertz (THz), as the length scales become more practical (≥ 10^-5 m). We successfully utilized polymer-based 3D additive rapid-prototyping technology to fabricate, to our knowledge, the world's first 3D THz CGVH in approximately 50 minutes, using $12 of consumables. This demonstration suggests that this technique could be extended to fabricate THz volumetric optics with arbitrary electromagnetic profiles.

Investigation of multiple holographic recording in azo-dye-doped nematic liquid-crystal film

We report multiple holographic recording and optical address recognition schemes in Methyl Red-doped liquid-crystal film without an applied electric field. Ten gratings are recorded at a single location of a 5 mm2 area by using optical multiplexing methods, and the diffraction efficiencies are studied for multiplexed gratings. Diffraction behavior of angular and peristrophic multiplexed gratings is discussed, and two methods that involve recording angles and peristrophic rotation angles are presented for optical recognition.

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.

Multilayer volume holographic optical memory

We demonstrate a scheme for volume holographic storage based on the features of shift selectivity of a speckle reference-wave hologram. The proposed recording method permits more-efficient use of the recording medium and yields greater storage density than spherical or plane-wave reference beams. Experimental results of multiple hologram storage and replay in a photorefractive crystal of iron-doped lithium niobate are presented. The mechanisms of lateral and longitudinal shift selectivity are described theoretically and shown to agree with experimental measurements.

Reduction in the reconstruction error of computer-generated holograms by photorefractive volume holography

We suggest a method for coding high-resolution computer-generated volume holograms. It involves splitting the computer-generated hologram into multiple holograms, their individual recording as volume holograms by use of the maximal resolution available from the spatial light modulator, and subsequent simultaneous reconstruction. We demonstrate the recording and the reconstruction of a computer-generated volume hologram with a space-bandwidth product much higher than the limitation imposed by the interfacing spatial light modulator. Finally, we analyze the scheduling procedure of the multiple holographic recording process in photorefractive medium in this specific application.