Characteristics of Dielectric Holograms

The diffraction efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio for two-dimensional and volume diffuse-signal-beam holograms are calculated and experimentally determined. Calculations are based on the statistical properties of the signal beam, and exact integrals rather than series approximations are used. High signal-to-noise ratio and high diffraction efficiency are possible, with the peak calculated diffraction efficiency being 22% for two-dimensional and 64% for volume holograms. The experimentally achieved efficiencies were 12% for two-dimensional and 36% for volume holograms.