Phase holograms formed by silver halide (sensitized) gelatin processing

A novel recording process for the formation of phase volume holograms at up to 1500 cycles/mm is described. The term silver halide (sensitized) gelatin or SHG denotes an all-gelatin phase material, which records the initial image information through photon absorption by the silver halide. Our process uses a reversal bleach that dissolves the developed silver image and cross-links the gelatin molecules in the vicinity of the developed image. Experiments have determined the stored image as refractive-index differences within the remaining gelatin. The major attributes of SHG holograms are (1) panchromatic response, (2) 100:1 greater light sensitivity than dichromate (sensitized) gelatin, and (3) elimination of darkening (printout) effects.