Miracles of the off-axis interference pattern

Ralph F. Wuerker

doi:10.1117/12.686723

30 August 2006 Miracles of the off-axis interference pattern

Ralph F. Wuerker

Proceedings Volume 6311, Optical Information Systems IV; 63111A (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.686723
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The development of the wave nature of light, over the last 430 years, resulted in the off-axis or Leith hologram. Earlier contributions were expressions for the resolution of microscopes and telescopes and the first color photographs. X-ray diffraction by crystals and recorded photographically (actually "holograms" recorded without a reference beam) eventually produced images of atoms in crystals. D. Gabor was the first to add an in line reference beam to a diffraction pattern by passing a coherent beam through a tenuous scene. Interference between the light scattered by the scene and the unperturbed beam was recorded (as in crystallography by a photographic plate, the hologram). The message was reconstructed when the plate was re illuminated with colored light. It is believed that the off axis reference beam was discovered during the classified development of side looking radars. The invention of the visible helium neon laser clarified the importance of the off axis hologram which produces 3D imagery with continuous parallax (miracle #1) of the recorded scene. It was found that the off axis hologram reconstructed the amplitude and phase of the original wavefront, making possible interferometric comparisons (miracle #2). Reconstruction of the conjugate wavefront was achieved by reversing the direction of the reconstructing beam (miracle #3). Phase conjugated holograms makes possible 3D microscopes and can be used to correct different optical systems. In hind sight, it could be said that the off axis or Leith hologram was too obvious, as are all other great discoveries.

Citation Download Citation

Ralph F. Wuerker "Miracles of the off-axis interference pattern", Proc. SPIE 6311, Optical Information Systems IV, 63111A (30 August 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.686723

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Holograms

Holography

Diffraction

Holographic interferometry

Photography

Telescopes

Wavefronts

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years