Holographic recording in polymeric materials with applications

Citation

Steckman, Gregory Joseph (2001) Holographic recording in polymeric materials with applications. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/m10t-n277. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01232009-094031

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of research in volume holographic recording in several polymeric recording materials and their use in selected applications. The first chapter discusses the key properties of holographic recording materials. The second chapter develops a technique for calculating exposure schedules for photorefractive polymers which do not exhibit mono-exponential recording dynamics. It is determined that these materials require performance improvements before they can be successfully applied to many interesting applications of volume holography, such as holographic data storage and optical correlators which are described in later chapters. The third chapter investigates recording in diffusion amplification based polymer materials. This class of materials overcomes many limitations of other polymer types, such as limited thicknesses and volume shrinkage. A new material based on the diffusion amplification principle is developed with the goal of increasing dynamic range. The new material, a naphtoquinone and PMMA based co-polymer, is demonstrated in holographic recording experiments. In the fourth chapter, holographic data storage experiments are performed and a storage density of 7 bits/μm[superscript 2] is achieved. A holographic data storage system which utilizes shift multiplexing is modeled and simulated to determine optimal system parameters and material characteristics. It is discovered that the dynamic range of the material used, phenanthrenequinone doped poly(methyl methacrylate), is insufficient to provide very high data storage densities. In the fifth chapter attention is focused on the development and characterization of an optical holographic correlator system using the DuPont HRF-150 photopolymer. The system is used for image recognition and tracking. The performance of the system is characterized with multiple 2-d and 3-d objects with respect to camera resolution, magnification, rotation, and other transformations. The system is demonstrated to be capable of simultaneously recognizing and tracking multiple targets, even in the presence of extraneous objects and partial obscuring of the targets. The final chapter describes the development of a high-speed holographic movie camera. Utilizing a Q-switched Nd:YAG pulse laser and Aprilis ULSHSO0-7A recording material, multi-frame holographic exposures with a 80 MHz frame rate are recorded.

Thesis Files