Magnification and Third-Order Aberrations in Holography*

Abstract

Formulas for angular, lateral, and longitudinal magnification in reconstructed images by holography (imaging by reconstructed wavefronts) are derived and discussed as a function of object–hologram distance, radii of spherical reference and illuminating wavefronts, wavelength ratio of reconstructing to recording radiation, and scale-change factor of the hologram. Expressions for third-order aberrations in the reconstructed wavefronts of point objects are given and conditions are established under which one or more of the aberration coefficients vanish, taking into account an off-axis angle of both reference and illuminating beam.