Holography is now used widely as a display medium. In addition, it is firmly established as a tool for scientific and engineering studies, and has found a remarkably wide range of applications for which it is uniquely suited.

This book is intended as an introduction to the subject for science and engineering students, as well as people with a scientific background who would like to learn more about holography and its applications. Key topics are presented at a level that is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of physics. A comprehensive bibliography and references to original papers identify sources of additional information. Numerical problems (and solutions) are provided at the end of each chapter, to clarify the principles discussed and give the reader a feel for numbers.

After a brief historical retrospect, the first three chapters review image formation by a hologram, the characteristics of the reconstructed image, and the basic types of holograms, while the next three chapters discuss available light sources, the characteristics of hologram recording media and practical recording materials.

These six chapters are followed by three chapters describing methods for the production of different types of holograms for displays, including multicolor holograms, and methods for making copies of holograms, as well as a chapter describing the production of computer-generated holograms. Following these, the next two chapters review some of the most important technical applications of holography, such as high-resolution imaging, holographic optical elements, and holographic information storage and processing.