holography

The principle of holography. (A) To form a hologram, an object is illuminated in coherent light (usually from a laser). A photographic plate is then exposed in a combination of the light scattered from the object and some of he original beam of coherent light (the reference beam) reflected in a mirror. (B) To view the hologram, it is illuminated in coherent light similar to the original reference beam. The light scattered from the hologram then affords views of an image of the original object in whatever orientation the hologram is viewed. Holography depends on interference in the plane of the hologram between the light scattered by the object and the coherent reference beam.

A system of recording light or other waves on a photographic plate or other medium in such a way as to allow a three-dimensional reconstruction of the scene giving rise to the waves, in which the observer can actually see around objects by moving his or her head. The resulting plate, or hologram, records the interference pattern between waves reflected by the scene and a direct reference wave at an angle to it; it is view by illuminating it from behind and looking through rather than at it. The high spatial coherence needed prevented exploitation of the technique, originated in 1948 by the Hungarian-born British physicist Dennis Gabor (1900-1979), until the advent of lasers.

There are two kinds of hologram: reflection, in which the 3D image seems to be behind the plate; and projection, in which the image stands out like a mirage.

Holography is increasingly used in measurement and inspection (e.g., for irradiated nuclear fuel rods either out of or in a working reactor, and, for security coding on bank cards) and for decorative or artistic artifacts. Color holograms are possible, and three-dimensional television may ultimately be feasible.

Related categories

   • OPTICS AND OPTICAL PHENOMENA
   • WAVES AND WAVE PHENOMENA
   • TECHNOLOGY

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