Computational Reconstruction of Scattering Objects from Holograms*

Abstract

This paper reports the successful computational determination of structural detail in a simple transparent object through holographic measurement of scattered monochromatic light. The complex disturbance of the scattered light is measured in amplitude and phase, along a line transverse to the illumination in the Fresnel zone of the object. The scattering potential of the object is then calculated along a parallel line using the field data and a new inverse scattering theory. The results agree well with the known parameters of the two test objects, a high-quality and a low-quality right parallelepiped aligned with two faces normal to the illumination. This experiment is believed to be the first which includes the quantitative reconstruction of structure in a physical object from measurement of scattered light. The technique is somewhat similar to that employed in connection with reconstruction of crystal structures from x-ray diffraction experiments.