Method and apparatus for holographic recording of fast phenomena

A method for recording a timed sequence of holographic frames of an object comprising the steps of:

• providing a medium or camera for recording multiple holograms;
• generating a plurality of at least partially coherent signal pulses for illuminating the object, each of which signal pulses propagate in the same spatial direction;
• generating a plurality of at least partially coherent reference pulses, each of which reference pulses have different optical properties;
• directing the plurality of at least partially coherent signal pulses scattered from the object onto the medium or camera;
• and
• simultaneously with the plurality of at least partially coherent signal pulses directing the plurality of at least partially coherent reference pulses onto the medium or camera to multiplex holograms corresponding to the timed sequence of holographic frames recorded in the medium or camera arising from interference between the plurality of signal pulses scattered from the object and reference pulses, where the step of generating the plurality of at least partially coherent signal pulses comprises generating a signal pulse train in a first optical cavity and where the step of generating the plurality of at least partially coherent reference pulses comprises generating a reference pulse train in a second optical cavity synchronously with generation of the signal pulse train, wherein each pulse of the reference pulse train has a different propagation direction.