Model for analyzing the effects of processing on recording material in thick holograms

Abstract

A new model to describe the influences of chemical processing on thick holograms is presented. The model is based on three hypotheses about the behavior of holographic recording material during processing. Thickness variations and shear-type effects that are due to processing are taken into account in this model, and a new parameter, the effective thickness, is introduced. It is possible to use this thickness to express the relation that exists between the components of the grating vector before and after processing. Experimental results obtained with transmission gratings recorded in a bleached silver halide emulsion are presented and discussed. © 1992 Optical Society of America.