Some fundamental limitations of achromatic holographic systems

Abstract

Fundamental limitations on achromatic holographic systems are examined by using Gaussian-bracket expressions for the first order and chromatic properties of a general holographic system. It is shown that there is one and only one holographic triplet that is corrected for both primary-color errors and secondary axial color. Secondary color is shown to be fundamentally uncorrectible in a holographic triplet. Also, a rigorous proof is given that any achromatic image of a real object that is formed by an all-holographic imaging system must be virtual, regardless of the number of holographic elements in the system.