How hologram technology will shape the future? We are now in a new era, the world where technology is pacing up at a greater speed like never before. New technological advancements, new prospects, and new opportunities are sprouting up every now and then. Moreover, the increasing number of high-tech equipment, software, hardware, and programming skills are paving ways for more crucial possibilities in technology. One of these technological advancements that are making the wave is holography.

What is Holography?

Holography is a photographic technique in which scattered light from an object is harnessed to produce a three-dimensional image of the object. The image presented by this technique is known as a hologram, and it is observed by the naked eye.

What Are 3-dimensional (3D) Holograms?

Regarding photography, it only produces two-dimensional flat images. Contrarily, a 3D hologram technology records the entire light field, including the phase and the intensity, such that you can move around the 3D hologram and peruse it from all angles, just exactly the way you would view the real object. Moreover, you don’t need an optical device or a special glass to view it. This technology is now being used in movies, animations, and devices such as HoloPlayer and Navion. Navion is being upgraded to be featured on windshields for navigation and potential driving hazard notifications.

Holograms – How do they work?

The hologram is based on the light interference principle. It is produced by capturing the interference pattern of two or more beams of light on a recording medium. Hologram technology came into existence in 1962 when a Soviet Union scientist, Yuri Denisyuk, made use of the laser to practically produce optical holograms capable of recording 3D objects. Early holograms made use of photographic emulsions made of silver halide as the recording medium, but they were not sufficiently effective as the substantial amount of the incident light is absorbed. However, various methods of producing more effective holograms have been developed.

Types of Hologram

1. Amplitude Phase Modulation Hologram

This method makes use of a photographic emulsion in which the emulsion is exposed to the holographic interference pattern, which is subsequently developed via a transmittance that modulates the intensity of the interference pattern.

2. Rainbow Hologram

The Rainbow hologram, also called Benton hologram, was invented by Dr. Stephen A. Benton in 1968. This type of hologram does not make use of the laser light but a white light. The method involves a recording process that makes use of a horizontal skit for eliminating vertical parallax from the image output. Hence, the spectral blur is greatly reduced and the hologram is observed under the white light. This hologram technology is currently being utilized for security purposes, on drivers’ licenses and credit cards.

3. Volume Effect Holograms

This form of hologram harnesses the recording medium thickness with respect to the interference fringes spacing to make up a holographic recording. When the recording medium thickness is considerably less than the interference fringes spacing, it is called a thin hologram. Conversely, when the recording thickness is greater, the hologram is called a thick hologram.

4. Transmission Hologram

To produce a transmission hologram, the object and the reference beams are on the same side of the plate, from where they are incident on the recording medium. However, this may require direct beams from several mirrors.

5. Reflection Hologram

In the production of a reflection hologram, the object and the reference beams are on the opposite sides of the plate, from where they are incident on the recording medium.

6. Computer Generated Hologram

Computer Generated Hologram, simply known as CGH, is a type of hologram produced from digitally computed interference pattern, printed on a film or mask, and subsequently illuminated to generate the hologram.

Holograms – Fact or fiction?

Gone are the days when the reality of holograms was being speculated; then it was known to be a science fiction. Real holograms are becoming a common thing. Currently, holograms are getting closer to us as our shadows because most drivers’ licenses, credit cards, and ID cards are employing the technology for security purposes. Due to the advent of CGH, holograms are becoming handier. They are now available in the market on CDs and DVDs, Blu-Ray and software packages for use on computers and mobiles.

Though science fiction movies, such as Avatar and Star Wars were able to display 3D holograms you could see from all angles, yet their realities are less substantial. More solid holograms, such as the Graphene created by Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim are now leading the race, Graphene is now emerging on wearable devices such as smartwatches, smart headsets, fitness bands, mobile devices. With Graphene, hologram has become something you can touch, slide and interact with on a screen.

In 2015, a team of 16 Korean researchers in collaboration with some groups developed a holographic method known as optical trap display. This invention is speculated to come to life in holographic TV sets by 2021. At this juncture, you will agree with me that hologram has become something far beyond a fantasy.

How hologram technology will shape the future?

Military Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is technically a military strategy of observing the potential battlefield, especially in locating the enemy stronghold and establishing solid strategic features in preparation for the real battle. The possibility of using holograms for this purpose is under development. Researchers are now working on the possibility of using this technology in improving battlefield intelligence, explosive disposal strategies, military planning and training, and much more.

Data Storage

The current storage technique, including Blu-Ray, are reaching their limits. Hence, holographic storage is being considered as the next generation of the storage medium. Apart from recording images, holography is now being developed for storing data. This technique is capable of storing a huge quantity of information at a high density inside polymers or crystals. One of the benefits is that instead of using the interface, the recording media volume is used.

Art

Holographic art is now becoming a talk-show in the entertainment industry as artists are now collaborating with scientists on utilizing holograms in creating their work. This is not a new development, Salvador Dali has claimed to be the first to use holography in art; nevertheless, in 1972, the New York featured that an art exhibition that was held in 1968 at the Cranbrook Academy preceded Dali’s hologram. Moreover, there are ongoing researches to develop real 3D holographic movies.

Fraud and Security

As mentioned above, holography is being employed in securing drivers’ licenses, ID cards, and credit cards. This is due to the fact that it is a complex technology to make, so it offers significant security advantages to institutions, government, and commercial markets. For instance, the silver dove on your credit card operates by holographic technology. Bank notes originality is now being secured by holography; the UK £5 employs holography to produce 3d holograms of the images printed on it when tilted in different directions.

Medical

How hologram technology in the future of  medical usage? Holograms, as tools for training medical students, visualizing patient data, ultrasound scans, exploring patients internal body organs and much more, is now been developed to revolutionize medicine. After all, a Scotland company has successfully used a hologram for display and training.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, hologram has scaled up from the world of fiction and fantasy into the real world. Besides the realities, current and future applications of hologram listed above, there are many more developments and researches with incredible results that will emerge into the limelight in the nearest future. In order to keep yourself of the latest information and holographic inventions, bookmark this site and check often. You can also get more information on the hologram technology and future expectations here, on this website: https://www.clean-rooms.org