Optics InfoBase is the Optical Society's online library for flagship journals, partnered and copublished journals, and recent proceedings from OSA conferences.

Optics InfoBase is the Optical Society's online library for flagship journals, partnered and copublished journals, and recent proceedings from OSA conferences.

A novel iterative method of generating three-plane, phase-only computer-generated holograms is presented. It is based on the iterative Fresnel ping-pong two-plane algorithm. A modification is introduced to extend the method for three planes, i.e., two object planes and a hologram itself. The described method enables the design of low-noise and high-efficiency phase-only holograms using a numerical Fresnel propagation algorithm. The source method is described, followed by the modified algorithm. Numerical simulation results and algorithm parameters are discussed, followed by a discussion of the method limitations.

Optics InfoBase is the Optical Society's online library for flagship journals, partnered and copublished journals, and recent proceedings from OSA conferences.

We show that the apodized annular-aperture logarithmic axicon preserves excellent uniformity of the on-axis intensity, energy flow, and lateral resolution. Numerical evaluation of the Fresnel diffraction integral leads to results very close to geometrical-optics predictions. Once again the geometrical law of energy conservation turns out to be a useful tool in designing axicons.

A method of color image projection is experimentally validated. It assumes a simultaneous illumination of a spatial light modulator (SLM) with three laser beams converging in a common point on a projection screen. The beams are masked with amplitude filters so that each one illuminates one third of the area of the SLM. A Fourier hologram of a chosen color component of an input image is calculated, and its phase pattern is addressed on a corresponding part of the SLM area. A full-color flat image is formed on the screen as a result of color mixing. Additional techniques of image optimization are applied: time-integral speckle averaging and an off-axis shift of a zero-order peak. Static and animated experimental results of such a color holographic projection with a good image quality are presented.