Applications of multiplexed real time and permanent holographic recording in photorefractive BSO

Photochromic effects in crystals of photorefractive bismuth silicon oxide have been used for the recording of permanent holograms. The combination of this permanent recording with the usual photorefractive real time recording has revealed some novel techniques in information processing and interferometry. These are based on the possibilities of multiplexing two distinct holographic gratings having identical grating wave vectors within the same crystal volume. Techniques ranging from image synthesis and logic operations to holographic interferometry and all-optical switching are demonstrated