Pixel-matched holographic data storage with megabit pages.

Digital data-page holograms consisting of 1024 x 1024 arrays of binary pixels have been stored and subsequently retrieved with an optical exposure consistent with a data rate 1 Gbit /s. Each input pixel was precisely registered with a single detector pixel, and a raw bit-error rate as low as 2.4 x 10(-6) was demonstrated with global-threshold detection.

Effects of multilevel phase masks on interpixel cross talk in digital holographic storage.

We study the interpixel cross talk introduced to digital holographic data storage by use of a multilevel phase mask at the data-input plane. We evaluate numerically the intensity distribution at the output detector for Fourier plane hologram storage in a limited-aperture storage medium. Only the effect at an output pixel of interpixel cross talk from the four horizontal and vertical neighboring pixels is considered, permitting systematic evaluation of all possibilities.

Holographic digital data storage in a photorefractive polymer.

We report high-contrast storage of 64-kbit digital data pages in a photorefractive polymer material. Singlepage writing, reading, and erasing operations were demonstrated with a dual-function-dopant polymeric material having a dark lifetime of several days. Data were reconstructed without error by use of several simple readout algorithms.

A precision tester for studies of holographic optical storage materials and recording physics.

The design and the realization of an advanced precision optical test stand for evaluating materials and developing tools and techniques for holographic digital data storage are described. This apparatus allows studies of holographic recording materials and recording physics to be performed in the context of practical data storage. The system concept, its implementation, and its performance are described, and examples of holographic storage in photorefractive materials are discussed.

Polarization sensitivity of noise gratings recorded in silver halide volume holograms.

The formation of holographic gratings in silver halide emulsions is limited by scattering from photosensitive grains embedded in these materials. The most serious consequence of this effect is a sharp reduction in the diffraction efficiency of a volume hologram reconstructed at the formation angle. This has been attributed to a noise grating, resulting from the interference between a beam illuminating the emulsion and scattered light.

Near-infrared holography by two-photon photochemistry.

The applicability of the technique of two-photon four-level photochemistry for the production of near-IR holograms is critically evaluated. Although the current best system (biacetyl in a polycyanoacrylate matrix) has low recording sensitivity, several applications of the material have been demonstrated. Hologram efficiencies of up to 70% recorded at 752 nm are shown.

Opto-optical light deflection.

Light deflection is accomplished by diffraction from a transient index modulation established as a grating of variable frequency in an optical material by the interference of two controlling light beams. This device may be considered an opto-optical analog to an acoustooptical deflector, in that a change in angular deflection is created by altering the frequency of the diffraction grating. In this paper we report on a technique for altering the grating frequency by changing the wavelength of the control beams and the use of a novel optical system to maintain the Bragg condition over a wide range of frequencies.

Small fast large-aperture light modulator using attenuated total reflection.

An optical modulator is described which offers several advantages in terms of speed, aperture size, and ease of operation over other techniques for amplitude modulation of a collimated light beam. This simple device consists of a prism separated from a metallically reflecting surface by a small micron-size gap. Varying the gap thickness changes the intensity of the light reflected off the base of the prism.