Preface

Summary

The study of very small objects in a dynamic volume is of significant importance in modern science and technology. Particles, bubbles, aerosols, droplets, etc. play key roles in processes dealing with nozzles, jets, combustion, turbines, rocket engines, cavitation, fog, raindrops, pollution, and so on. The quantities to be studied are size, shape, velocity, phase, etc. Holography provides an excellent imaging tool with aperture-limited resolution in a volume rather than just in a plane. The purpose of this book is to describe this subject matter under one cover for the first time.

After a brief historical background in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 introduces the fundamental expressions and notations of holography to be used throughout the book. Chapter 3 covers general theory and mathematical formulations of in-line far-field holography. The recording and reconstruction processes are discussed in detail and the relationships obtained are used throughout the book. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with a large number of the design and practical problems often encountered. Aspects like film size and resolution requirements, source coherence requirements, allowable object velocity, hologram recording and processing techniques, image enhancement, ultimate resolution limits and uncertainties are detailed in these chapters. Chapter 6 provides detailed analysis to relate object and image spaces. The aspects covered are location and magnifications for quantitative analysis of the image. Chapter 7 covers third-order aberrations dealing with holography of small objects. Limits due to these aberrations on the ultimate resolution and some ways to control the aberrations are described.