Photographic phase holograms: the influence of developer composition on scattering and diffraction efficiency

Abstract

Photographic phase holograms processed with a conventional bleach after fixing usually have higher diffraction efficiencies than those processed without fixing using a reversal bleach, but exhibit much higher levels of scattering. Experimental results with the two types of bleach are presented which show how scattering and diffraction efficiency are influenced by the composition of the developer. Two processes associated with development, namely, solution physical development and local hardening of the gelatin, are identified as being primarily responsible for the effects observed.