Optimum quantization in digital holography

Finite plotter resolution introduces quantization into the representation of digital holograms. By utilizing the statistical properties of the Fourier transform of random phase images, optimum quantization schemes are derived and tabulated for the representation of these transforms. These schemes are applied to Lohmann and Lee type holograms where it is found that measured quantization errors agree with theoretical predictions. Methods for predicting optimum quantization schemes and associated mean squared errors are simplified to table-lookup procedures.