Roadmap on digital holography [Invited]

This Roadmap article on digital holography provides an overview of a vast array of research activities in the field of digital holography. The paper consists of a series of 25 sections from the prominent experts in digital holography presenting various aspects of the field on sensing, 3D imaging and displays, virtual and augmented reality, microscopy, cell identification, tomography, label-free live cell imaging, and other applications. Each section represents the vision of its author to describe the significant progress, potential impact, important developments, and challenging issues in the field of digital holography

LCoS spatial light modulators as active phase elements of full-field measurement systems and sensors

Spatial light modulators (SLM) are devices used to modulate amplitude, phase or polarization of a light wave in space and time. Current SLMs are based either on MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) or LCD (liquid crystal display) technology. Here we report on the parameters, trends in development and applications of phase SLMs based on liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology. LCoS technology was developed for front and rear projection systems competing with AMLCD (active matrix LCD) and DMD (Digital Mirror Device) SLM. The reflective arrangement due to silicon backplane allows to put a high number of pixels in a small panel, keeping the fill-factor ratio high even for micron-sized pixels. For coherent photonics applications the most important type of LCoS SLM is a phase modulator. In the paper at first we describe the typical parameters of this device and the methods for its calibration. Later we present a review of applications of phase LCoS SLMs in imaging, metrology and beam manipulation, developed by the authors as well as known from the literature. These include active and adaptive interferometers, a smart holographic camera and holographic display, microscopy modified in illuminating and imaging paths and active sensors

Extended viewing angle holographic display system with tilted SLMs in a circular configuration

This paper presents an extended viewing angle holographic display for reconstruction of real world objects in which the capture and display systems are decoupled. This is achieved by employing multiple tilted spatial light modulators (SLMs) arranged in a circular configuration. In order to prove the proper reconstruction and visual perception of holographic images the Wigner distribution function is employed. We describe both the capture system using a single static camera with a rotating object and a holographic display utilizing six tilted SLMs. The experimental results based on the reconstruction of computer generated and real world scenes are presented. The coherent noise removal procedure is described and implemented. The experiments prove the possibility to view images reconstructed in the display binocularly and with good quality