Holograms are found on many products. Currency notes, goods, and commodities all have a stamped hologram at the corner whose purpose is seldom known to us. Holography is a major study in diffractive optics, and its applications have scaled many domains.
In contrast to the image formed by the lens, a hologram can be considered as a 3D imprint of the light. It uses the principles of diffraction and interference and the formation of the standing waves of light.
The Working
Holography is a stunning emergence from diffractive optics. Generally, laser beams are used in the creation of holograms. Their applications found use in the storage and recreation of optical interferences. Modern holograms are computer-based and seldom require any source, and can generate patterns that haven’t existed before. Capturing the light beam on screens of materials like silver halide can be stored and reproduced later. Instead of the source laser frequency, the white light can be used to recreate by discreet filtering and polarization.
Applications Of Holography
These days lasers, modern digital processors, and even different computer techniques are being implemented for hologram creation. The latest procedures don’t even require the complete chain sequence of construction, storage, and reconstruction to create the hologram permanently.
The principles of diffraction optics in holograms are applied in several real-life instances like:
• Industrial applications to measure the physical differences due to stress or strain along the surfaces. The surface irregularities are generally studied using the light interference of light or sometimes the propagation of sound waves through the medium.
• High capacity data storage: Since light beams can be captured at any angle, using multiple angular directions, a large capacity of data can be stored compared to bulky CDs or drives.
• Avoiding Forgery: Any image is easy to reproduce and forge. But the complex holograms make it difficult to create an exact copy. They are thus used on valuable items, currency notes, and bank cards to ensure their originality.
• Art: Apart from the scientific uses, diffraction optics also finds its use in creativity. Holographic effects create interesting patterns of light and design used in many mirrored constructions and fashion industries.
• Medical Sector: The advanced imaging technology has made pathologists and radiologists easily judge the internal organ’s functioning or the fracture in bones and tissues.
The main use of holograms captures the light beams and later reconstructs them using beam splitters and filters.
