Back to basics

Computer-generated holograms

From the invention of the laser and early calculators to the very latest applications

Institut d’Optique Graduate School, Palaiseau, France

^* lionel.jacubowiez@institutoptique.fr

Abstract

Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) have many advantages over conventional ones. For a start, they are generally lighter, take up less room, and have a wider variety of properties. They can also be used to fabricate hybrid elements that modify polarization, compensate for dispersion, and so on. Moreover, they are potentially low cost, as they can be mass replicated using manufacturing methods similar to those employed for semiconductor devices. It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that DOEs already have many industrial applications.