Multimode waveguide holograms capable of using non-coherent light
AssigneeUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
InventorsH. John Caulfield, Qiang Huang, Andrei Putilin, Valentin Morozov
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Abstract
A multimode waveguide having a small thickness has light coupled to the side of the waveguide in order to provide a multimode operation of the waveguide for providing a continuous pattern of totally internally reflected light which is utilized to reconstruct holographic images from a holographic emulsion placed on a surface of the waveguide. This waveguide structure for reconstructuring a hologram has the capability of providing highly efficient hologram reconstruction while using ordinary light sources and is able to use beam diameters greater than the thickness of the waveguide.
Claims11
A multitude waveguide structure comprising:
- a dielectric waveguide for supporting multimode propagation of light wherein said waveguide has two main side surfaces defining a thickness therebetween and a length substantially greater than width with the ends of the lengthwise each extent of the waveguide being defined by a respective edge;
- input coupling means for coupling a light beam of a frequency .lambda. into one of said main side surfaces in the vicinity of a first one of said edges to thereby provide a spatially continuous pattern of totally internally reflected light within said waveguide, wherein said thickness is greater than said frequency,
- further including an holographic emulsion placed on said one surface in the vicinity of said second edge wherein said holographic emulsion contains a previously recorded holographic image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.