Diffraction-Specific Fringe Computation for Electro -

Diffraction-specific fringe computation is a novel system for the generation of holographic fringe patterns for real-time display. This thesis describes the development, implementation, and analysis of diffraction-specific computation, an approach that considers the reconstruction process rather than the interference process in optical holography. The primary goal is to increase the speed of holographic computation for real-time three-dimensional electro-holographic (holovideo) displays. Diffraction-specific fringe computation is based on the discretization of space and spatial frequency in the fringe pattern. Two holographic fringe encoding techniques are developed from diffraction-specific fringe computation and applied to make most efficient use of hologram channel capacity. A "hogel-vector encoding" technique is based on undersampling the fringe spectra. A "fringelet encoding" technique is designed to increase the speed and simplicity of decoding. The analysis of diffraction-specific computation focuses on the trade-offs between compression ratio, image fidelity, and image depth. The decreased image resolution (increased point spread) that is introduced into holographic images due to encoding is imperceptible to the human visual system under certain conditions. A compression ratio of 16 is achieved (using either encoding method) with an acceptably small loss in image resolution. Total computation time is reduced by a factor of over 100 to less than 7.0 seconds per 36-MB holographic fringe using the fringelet encoding method. Diffraction-specific computation more efficiently matches the information content of holographic fringes to the human visual system. Diffraction-specific holographic encoding allows for "visual-bandwidth holography," i.e., holographic imaging that requires a bandwidth commensurate with the usable visual information contained in an image. Diffraction -specific holographic encoding enables the integration of holographic information with other digital media, and is therefore vital to applications of holovideo in the areas of visualization, entertainment, and information, including education, telepresence, medical imaging, interactive design, and scientific visualization. Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617 -253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.