A previsualization program for pictorial holography

Abstract

The problem of predicting and previsualizing the distortions and aberrations in a holographic image is discussed, particularly for the case of pictorial, or display holograms. The mathematical procedure for predicting these attributes is outlined, followed by a brief outline of a computer program (HoloPov), written in the POV-Ray language, that can be used both to calculate these attributes and to display them. A brief outline is also given of a graphical user interface produced to allow fast manipulation of input data.