Diffraction efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio of multiplexed volume phase holograms recorded in a photographic emulsion

The problems related to noise that arise during recording and reconstruction of holograms used in optical data storage or in massive optical interconnection systems are quite similar and can be analyzed in order to improve the quality of the images that these optical systems provide. In this paper, we will analyze noise in cases in which several coherent object waves are simultaneously stored in a phase recording material in a way that allows us to obtain information about the relationship that exists between the recording material and the number of waves that are being stored. The material used in this study is Agfa Gevaert 8E75 HD holographic film processed with a rehalogenating—type bleach bath without a fixation step. Additionally, we show experimentally that it is possible to holographically store more than 400 waves at the same time (in a coherent fashion) using the same storage geometry, with a signal-to-noise ratio larger than 20 and an average diffraction efficiency of 15%.Part of this work was supported by the Direcció General d'Ensenyaments Universitaris i Investigació of the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (Project GV-1165/93) and the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain (Project MAT93-0369)