Particle Field Holography

Holography is ideally suited for the study of dynamic three-dimensional particle fields, and its applications for this pur-pose are almost limitless. The types and selection of configurations are described. A number of examples of current applications are given ranging from the study of micro organisms in biology to ice crystals in meteorology. It is concluded that ultimate image quality arising from a well-designed holography system will normally be slightly lower than the equivalent conventional photographic imaging method. However, such comparison can only be made when the precise object position is known a priori since only then is conventional photography applicable. Holography provides a method for examining, with high resolution, volumes several orders of magnitude larger than can be examined by photography. The most successful systems currently in use are combinations of holography with conventional methods, with the hologram serving primarily as a storage device.