HOLOGRAPHY,

HOLOGRAPHY, PAST, PRESENT

PRESENTAND
AND FUTURE
FUTURE

Dr Dennis
Dr Dennis Gabor, C.
C. B.
B. E.
E.,, F.
F. R.
R. S.
S.
CBS Laboratories, Stamford,
CBS Laboratories, Stamford, Connecticut
Connecticut

i It is aa wonderful
wonderful thing to see an
thing to an idea
blossoming out
! blossoming out in
in aa new
new science,
science, with
with some
some
2, 000 articles,
2, 000 articles, aa dozen
dozen books
books and
and confer-
ences such
such as these.

Just 24 years ago,

24 years ago, at Easter, 1947, 1947, II
had an idea. II wanted
wanted to improve the elec-
to improve the
tron microscope which,
which, tantalizingly,
tantalizingly, hadhad
stopped short
stopped short of
of resolving
resolving atomic lattices.
atomic lattices.
There was no no way
way of improving electron
of improving
lenses sufficiently.
lenses sufficiently. My My idea
idea was
was to
to take
take aa
bad picture,
bad picture, even
even aa quite
quite hopeless
hopeless looking
looking
picture, but
butone
one which
which contained
contained the
the whole
whole
information, amplitude
information, amplitude andand phase of of the
electron waves
electron waves and
and toto reconstruct
reconstruct from friends sent
friends sent me
me the
the article
article starting
starting on
on the
the
this bad
this bad picture, called
called a "hologram"
"hologram" the the front
front page
page of
of the
the New
New York
York Times in in which
which
real one
real one by means of light waves,
by means waves, forfor which
which Walter Sullivan
Walter reported on
Sullivan reported on the
the first
first
we have
we have adequate
adequate means
means of of correction.
correction. I brilliant
brilliant experiment
experiment of of Emmett
Ernmett Leith
Leith and
and
then carried out,
then carried out, in
in 1948,
1948, aafew
few optical
optical Juris
Juris Upatnieks
Upatnieks on
on "Lensless
"Lensless Laser
Laser
experiments to prove the feasibility of of Photography.""
Photography.
"wavefront reconstruction
"wavefront These optical
reconstruction11".. These
experiments became
experiments became thethe ancestors
ancestors of thethe But now
But nowlet
let us
us leave
leave history
history and
and see
art of
art of holography.
holography. where we are
where we are now.
now. I
I will
will try
try to
to review
review
holography, past, present
holography, past, present and future, from
and future, from
Lookingback,
Looking back, II must
must call
call myself
myself very aa unifying
unifying viewpoint; the
the viewpoint
viewpoint of
of
lucky to
lucky to have
have thought
thought ofof holography
holography as as aa information theory.
information theory.
method for
method for improving
improving electron
electron microscopes.
microscopes.
At that
At that time,
time, I was
was a coolie
coolie inin aa great
great The
The basic
basic idea
idea ofof wavefront recon-
wavefront recon-
English electrical
English electrical firm,
firm, and
and ifif II had
had gone
gone to struction made
struction made itit possible
possible to to record
record all
all
my boss
my boss asking
asking him
him for
for permission
permission to to carry
carry the information in aa monochromatic
the monochromatic
out certain
out certain optical
optical experiments
experiments he he would
would wavefield in
wavefield in photographic
photographic emulsions
emulsions or or
have rightly refused it because
have because we were in equivalent intensity
equivalent intensity recorders.
recorders. Color
the electrical industry,
the industry, not
not the
the optical.
optical. holography (in
holography (inparticular,
particular, "deep"
"deep" or
or
But our
But our firm
firm manufactured
manufactured electron
electron micro-
micro- "volume"
"volume" holography)
holography) extended
extended the method
scopes, so I got the permission.
scopes, so I got the permission. to several
to several monochromatic
monochromatic wavefields
wavefields of
My papers
My papers ofof 1948 -49 had
1948-49 had some [Link]. different color,
different color, and
and holographic
holographic inter
inter--
G. L.
G. L. Rogers
Rogers in
in England,
England, Kirkpatrick,
Kirkpatrick, ferometry to several wavefields of the
ferometry to several wavefields of the same
same
H. El
H. -Sum and
El-Sum and A.
A. Baez
Baez in the United
United States or approximately
or approximately the the same
same color,
color, which
which had
made some
made interesting developments,
some interesting developments, and not co-
not existed in
co-existed in time.
time. We We encode
encode byby
an important
an important paper
paper byby Adolf
Adolf Lohmann
Lohmann holography, the
holography, the information
information on on wavefields,
wavefields,
appeared in
appeared in 1956;
1956;butbutafter
after that,
that, there
there was and as
and as always,
always, we we are
arelimited
limitedbybywaveband
waveband
aa great silence
silence until
until the
the explosion
explosion in in 1963.
1963. and noise.
and noise. The The engineer
engineer is is never
never happy
happy
In that
In that year (by
(by which
which II had
had almost forgotten until he
until he has
has reached
reached aa brick
brick wall
wall in the form
form,
about holography)
about holography) atat least
least half a dozen
dozen of mymy of basic,
of basic, irreducible
irreducible noise.
noise.

129
129
 So let
So let us
us consider
consider first
first the
the limitation
limitation of
of This is an
This an advantage
advantage ofof holography
holography which,
which,
our field
our field by
by noise.
noise. WeWe can
can then
then see
see what
what we
we in my
in my opinion,
opinion, has not yet
yet been
been sufficiently
sufficiently
can do
can with the
do with the vast
vast field between
between thethe brick
brick explored. It
explored. It can be used,
can be used, for
for instance,
instance, for
There are three
walls. There three types
types of
of noise
noise we
we night vision
night vision (of
(of course
course with
with laser
laser light)
light) and
and
must consider: Photon noise, grain noise,
must consider: Photon noise, grain noise, in microscopy
in microscopy one one could investigate light
light
and speckle noise.
and noise. sensitive structures
sensitive structures without
without destroying
destroying
them.
As regards
As regards photonphoton noise, II have have shown
shown
long ago that
long ago that the
the information
information in a mono- mono- Coming
Coming back back for
for aa moment
moment to to history,
history,
chromatic wave
chromatic wave isis thethe same in every every cross
cross - in the
in the years 1952 -55, II constructed,
1952-55, constructed, withwith
section in
section in the
the Shannon
Shannonsense;sense; that
that is
is to
to say,
say, my collaborator W.
my collaborator W. P. Goss,
Goss, aaholographic
holographic
in the number of of independent bits which which can microscope in in which
which one
one could see an an object
object
be extracted
be extracted from
from it. it. This
This is really
really nothing
nothing at a level
at level of
of illumination
illumination 50 50 times
times below
below
else than a meaningful
else meaningful reformulation of visibility. It was like a miracle; the the object
object
Huygen's principle.
Huygen's principle. In the form in in which
which was
was invisible and and then
then we threw 50 50 times
this principle is is described
described in the older text- more light not on
more on the object, but but on
on the
books, it is
books, is not
not very
very meaningful
meaningful because the photographic
photographic plate plate or
or into the eye -- andand
information
information is is infinite.
infinite. WithWith photon
photon noise there itit was!
was! But Butwhen
whenI Iwent
wentpeddling
peddling this
this
added to
added to it, it becomes
becomes finite and
and this finite
finite instrument to firms in in England,
England, Germany
Germany
quantityisis an
quantity an invariant
invariant in in aa beam.
beam. One One can and the States,
and the States, the
the answer
answer was always:
always: "We"We
make aa hologram
make hologram of of itit wherever one one likes; make interference microscopes
make interference microscopes only only for
one can
one can even
even put put aa diffuser
diffuser intointo the
the beam
beam so prestige andand thank
thank youyou -- our
our losses
losses are
long as we
long as we dodo notnot cut
cut out
out some
some of its its energy,
energy, already covered!"
already
and reconstruct
and reconstruct the the wavefield
wavefield with with the
the same
accuracy, as far
accuracy, far asas photon
photon noise
noise isis con- The novelty in
The novelty in holography
holography is is speckle
speckle
concerned.
concerned. noise. This
This has
has really
reallynothing
nothing toto do
do with
with
holography; it is a consequence of coherence
holography; it is a consequence coherence.
Practically, of
Practically, course, there
of course, there are
are It has aa special
It special standing
standing among
among noise
differences. One Onecannot
cannot make
make thethe hologram
hologram phenoma because
phenoma because itit is is not really noise
noise but
but
too small, or
too small, or else
else one
one encounters
encounters grain
grain unwanted information.
unwanted information. When When we put aa sheet
we put
noise. On
noise. On the
the other
other hand,
hand, ininholography
holography of whitepaper
of white paper into
into laser
laser light,
light, the
the reflected
reflected
there is almost
almost no no upper limit to to the size
size of
of light conveys
light conveys to to us information
information on on the
the rough-
rough-
the
the record. In In ordinary
ordinary photography,
photography, if one one ness of
of the
the paper in in which
which wewe are
are not at all
not at
has a light
has light beam
beam with givengiven energy,
energy, oneone interested.
interested. I am glad that at
glad that at last Dr J. M. M.
cannot make the plate too large or one drops
cannot make the plate too large or one drops Burch has
has shown
shown that we we can make some some use
into the
into the insensitive
insensitive partpart of the gray scale.
scale. of this
of this information.
But in holography,
But in holography, one can always add a
coherent background
coherent background (or (or reference
reference wave)
wave) Holography
Holography isis not
not responsible for
for
such as
such as to bring the intensity into into the speckle noise. .In
speckle noise. In the case
case of
of rough
rough objects,
objects,
straight part of
straight of the H & & DDcurve.
curve. OneOne can
can it makes it neither
makes it better nor
neither better nor worse.
worse. A
A
make
make thethe reference
reference wave 20, 50,
wave 20, 50, oror even
even holographic reconstruction of
holographic reconstruction of aa rough
rough object
object
more times stronger
more stronger than
than the
the object
object beam.
beam. is exactly
exactly as speckle
speckly asas aa direct
directphotograph
photograph
taken with aa perfect
taken with perfect lens of of the same
same size.
size.
The theory shows
The theory shows that if thethe photo-
photo- As the research
research workers
workers of of the
the University
University
graphic emulsion
graphic were an ideal photon
emulsion were photon of Michigan
of Michigan havehave long
long ago
ago demonstrated,
demonstrated,
detector, holography
detector, holography would
would not,not, of course,
of course, diffuse holograms, taken
diffuse holograms, taken of of smooth trans-
smooth trans-
be able to improve its performance. But
be able to improve its performance. parencies,
parencies, havehave great
great advantages,
advantages, but but at
at
the photographic
photographicplate plateisis far
far from
from ideal;
ideal; it the cost ofof speckle noise. In this
speckle noise. this case, thethe
takes about
about 200200 photons for aa developable
developable noise is again
again unwanted information; infor-
unwanted information; infor-
grain. ItIt can be shown that in
shown that in the
the case
case of mation on
mation the diffuser. The
on the The advantages
advantages are,are,
contrasty objects,
contrasty objects, where it is is aa question
question first of
first of all,
all, that
thatdiffused
diffused holograms
holograms have have
only of
only of aa grain
grain being
being developed
developedor or not,
not, a made
made itit possible to to produce
produce three dimen- dimen-
hologram can
hologram can make the subject
subject visible
visible with
with sional reconstructions of any object; second,
sional reconstructions of any object; second,
about 50 times
about 50 times less
less light
light than in ordinary they are free of
they are of the schlieren (the (the
photography. "peacock's eyes
"peacock's eyes")") due
due to
to grains
grains of of dust or
any imperfections of the
any imperfections the optical system,
system,
130
which unavoidably disfigure
which almost unavoidably disfigure recon- I have nowdealt,
have now dealt, rather
rather cursorily, with
with
struction of holograms
holograms taken
taken with
with regular
regular the noise problems. Let Let us
us see
see some
some of
of the
illumination. Third and perhaps most
and perhaps most other limitations,
other limitations, by
by light
light sources
sources and
and
important,
important, diffuse holograms represent
diffuse holograms represent detectors.
detectors.
almost ideal encodings
almost encodings in the Shannon sense.
in the Shannon sense.
The hologram isis itself
The hologram itself noiselike andand is The modern,
The modern, fine fine grain
grain photographic
photographic
highly insensitive to
highly insensitive to dust
dust or
or scratches. All emulsion
emulsion hashas as
as good
good as as reached
reached the the
these advantages,
these advantages, however,
however, must
must bebe paid
paid theoretical limit in
theoretical in terms of bits per photons.
terms of bits per photons.
for by putting
for putting up
up with
with speckle
speckle noise,
noise, which
which Finer grain is stillstill desirable
desirable in in the
the use
use ofof
at 20
at 20 db
db signal -to -noise spoils
signal-to-noise spoils the
the resolution deep (Denisyuk-
deep Lippman)holograms,
(Denisyuk-Lippman) holograms, where
by
by aa factor
factor of
of 10; at 40
10; at 40 db,
db, by
by aa factor ofof the scattering in
the in the
the blue
blue is is still excessive,
excessive,
100. and this
and this can be obtained
obtained only only atat the cost of of aa
certain loss
certain loss of speed. Fortunately,
of speed. Fortunately, the the
Fortunately,
Fortunately, the the speckle
speckle due
due to
to diffuse
diffuse developmentofoflasers
development lasers hashas proceeded
proceeded vigor-vigor-
illumination of
illumination of aa transparency
transparency is not not one
one of
of ously and
ously andisis still
still continuing.
continuing. We We still
Nature's brick
brick walls. Hannan, Gerritsen
walls. Hannan, Gerritsen possess
possess no no long
long coherence
coherence-length-length pulsed
and Ramberg
and Ramberg have
have shown that the
shown that the speckle lasers in
lasers in the
the green,
green, nor nor any
any sort
sortof of pulsed
pulsed
can
can be greatly reduced
be greatly reduced by by using aa group
group ofof lasers in
lasers in the
the blue.
blue. There There is, is, however,
however, aa
nine plane
nine plane illuminating
illuminating waveswaves instead
instead of a strong hope
strong hope inin the
the further
further development
development of
diffuser, and
and II have
have shown
shown that oneone can tunable dye
tunable dye lasers. Professor D.
lasers. Professor D. J.
J. Bradley
Bradley
approach, almost beyond
approach, beyond anyany limit,
limit, the
the has already
has already realized dye lasers tunable
dye lasers tunable over
advantages of
advantages of diffused
diffused holograms
holograms by a aa good one -halfofofthe
good one-half thevisible
visible spectrum,
spectrum, with
special system
special system of of multi -wave illumination
multi-wave one -fourth of
one-fourth of aa watt d. d. c. , and maybe a joule
and maybe joule
which, II admit,
which, admit, will
will require great accuracy
accuracy in pulsed
in pulsed operation. With With two two oror three
three dyes,
the realization. This
in the
in This is perhaps
perhaps one
one of
of one can
one can tune
tune from
from the the near
near ultraviolet
ultraviolet to to the
the
those applications in which digitally com-
those infrared end
infrared end of thethe spectrum.
puted optical
puted optical elements,
elements, so so brilliantly
advocated today by
advocated today by Adolf
AdolfLohmann,
Lohmann, are are the CO2 nitrogen laser
The CO laser isisnow
now safely
safely in
in
winners over optical "analog"
winners "analog 11 methods.
methods. ange, but
the kilowatt range,
the but in spite
spite ofof some
some very
ingenious efforts,
ingenious efforts, we
we still
stillhave
have no no good
good
Speckle is
Speckle is a nuisance
nuisance in
in light
lightholography,
holography, detectors to
to make
make holograms
holograms with with it,
it, except
but
but II am
am afraid
afraid itit is
is as good as fatal for a
good as by heat effects. II still
by heat still hope
hope that
thatsome
sometwo two--
line of acoustical holography
holography which
which appeared or -more photon
or-more photon effect
effect will
will be
be discovered
discovered
quite promising only
quite promising onlyaa few
fewyears
years ago.
ago. WeWe which will make
which will make a good
good equivalent
equivalent of of aa
do not possess
do not possess anan equivalent
equivalent of
of the
the photo-
photo- photographic plate,
photographic plate, even
even ifif this
this would
would have
graphic
graphic plate for [Link]. The most sensitive
The most to be
to be cooled
cooled toto liquid
liquid helium
helium temperature.
temperature.
detector is thethe hydrophone.
hydrophone. An An assembly
assembly ofof
a matrix
matrix of of 100
100 x 100
100 hydrophones
hydrophones is is a This conference,
conference, of ofwhich
which wewe have
have had
had
major technical
major technical feat,
feat, but
but even this is
even this only one -halfsosofar
only one-half far (and
(andII regret
regret I shall
shall be
be
equivalent only
equivalent only toto something likelike 11/100
/100 mm prevented from
prevented from attending
attending the the rest)
rest) has
of aa photographic
of photographic plate. plate. What
What is is worse, brought for
brought for me
me several
several agreeable
agreeable surprises,
surprises,
even this capacity cannot be
even this be fully utilized
utilized and
and II must
must say,
say, itit has
has made
made meme much
much more
more
because the
because the speckle
speckle spoils
spoils the resolution,
resolution, optimistic than
optimistic than II was
was before
before II came to it.
even
even atat aa low level of
low level of signal -to- noise, by
signal-to-noise, at
by at Let me
Let me first
first briefly
briefly summarize
summarize where
where wewe
least one order of magnitude. Moreover,
least one order of magnitude. Moreover, are now,
are now, leaving
leaving for for later those
those novelties
novelties
the speckle
the speckle is is unavoidable because all
unavoidable because all which are particularly
which are particularly significant
significant for
for the
the
ultrasonic objects
ultrasonic objects of of interest
interest are
are rough.
rough. future. AA short
future. shortreview
review may
may suffice.
suffice.
There
There are are nono "ultrasonic transparencies. ""
Nor have we
Nor have we gotgot one
one or
or two
two orders
orders of of 1.
1. Three
Three dimensional
dimensional pictures
pictures are
are now
now
magnitude inin resolution
magnitude resolution toto throw
throw away,
away, be- made commercially up to a size of
made of
cause thethe ultrasonic
ultrasonic waves
waves that oneone can use
use 24" xx 18
24" , in monochrome, trans-
18 M",
are not all that short. But
are But ultrasonic
ultrasonic vision mitting or
mitting or reflecting. Pictures in
reflecting. Pictures
is still
is still in
in its
its infancy,
infancy, and
and even
even sound
sound pic- two or three
two or three colors
colors are
are still
still unsatis-
unsatis-
tures much
tures inferior in
much inferior in quality
quality to light
light Holographic portraits
factory. Holographic portraits in
pictures may
pictures may be be of
of great
great practical
practical impor-
impor- natural colors are
natural are still
stillbeyond
beyond our
our
tance. reach.
reach.

131
2. Pulse holography
Pulse holography of very short short-- 6. The
6. The deblurring
deblurring ofof photographs
photographs by by
time processes
time processes isis now now an accom- holographic methods has
holographic methods has made
made sur-
sur-
plished art which
plished which is looking
looking for prising progress
progress byby the
the recent
recent work
work
applications rather
applications rather than for of Professor
of Professor Stroke. These approach
Stroke. These
improvements in
improvements in its
its methods.
methods. the original aimaim of
of holography;
holography; thethe
Let me
me single
single outout just oneone ofof its improvement of the resolution
resolution of
of the
the
achievements. Imagine
achievements. Imagine thatthat oneone electron microscope. Professor
electron microscope. Professor
would have
would have asked
asked aa physicist
physicist to Stroke hashas brought
brought down the resol-
down the resol-
measure the the size,
size, shape
shape andand num-
num- ution limit
ution limit of
of Professor
Professor Albert
ber of oil drops as
ber as they
they come
come out out Crewe's scanning
Crewe's transmission
scanning transmission
of
of aa jet
jet nozzle, with with Mach
Mach 22 microscope from five angstroms
microscope from five angstroms
speed and
speed and atat 2500
2500 C. °C. And this is
And this is to 22-5
-5 angstroms;
angstroms; aa great achieve-
achieve-
just what
just holography, in its sim-
what holography, in its sim- ment. But nobodyhas
But nobody has yet
yet started
started
plest for;n
plest forrn "in -line holography"
n in-line an adequate
an adequate program
program for for electron
can
can do,
do, in
in alliance
alliance withwith the
the pulsed
pulsed micro -holography, with coherent
micro-holography,
ruby laser.
ruby laser. One takes a single
One takes single electrons.
shot on
shot on aa photographic
photographic plate in,
say, 20
say, 20 nanoseconds.
nanoseconds. Then one 7.
7. The
The work of Professor Greguss
of Professor Greguss
reverses the
reverses the laser
laser beam,
beam, making
making suggests strongly
strongly that
that Nature
Nature has
has
a reel
real out
out ofof the virtual picture, anticipated the holographic
holographic principle
and one
one can now now dive with a by perhaps a few
by perhaps million years.
few million years.
microscope into into the "frozen"
"frozen 11
three -dimensional jet
three-dimensional jet stream and and 8.
8. Holographic
Holographic models
models ofof human
human and
and
measure everyevery oil oil droplet.
droplet. animal memory
memory have
have been
been developed
developed
by Professor Longuet-
by Professor Higgins and
Longuet-Higgins and
3. Holographicinterferometry
Holographic interferometry is is the his collaborators. It must be
his be
most important engineering
engineering emphasized that
emphasized that these
these models
models are
are
application of
application of holography.
holography. The The functionally, not
functionally, not structurally
structurally
methods
methods for detecting
detecting deformations
deformations holographic. There are no
holographic. no coherent
coherent
of surfaces at right
of surfaces right angles
angles to to them-
them- waves in
waves in them.
selves are perfect
selves perfectand and without
without
competition.
competition. As As we
we heard
heard today
today II have made this
have made this review
review of the present
of the present
from Emmett
from Leith, vibration
Emmett Leith, vibration state of the art very short because there
state of the art very short because there is
is
research
research has
has made
made an an important
important no point
no point in in duplicating
duplicating thethe very
very compre-
compre-
progress
progress byby the
the method
method of of syn-
syn- hensive reports
hensive reports of this conference.
conference. Now Now I
chronous
chronous (stroboscopic) illumin-
(stroboscopic) illumin- wish to say say aa few
few words about
about the future.
Contouring methods have
ation. Contouring Looking
Looking into intothe
thefuture
futureis'my
is'my spare
spare time
also reached a high level
also level of per-
of per- hobby, but
hobby, but II usually
usually make
make my my work
work easier
easier
fection, mainly
fection, mainly by by the
the work
work of of by looking
by looking2020orormore more years
years ahead.
ahead. When
When itit
Dr Varner. Methods
Dr Varner. Methods for observ-
observ- comes to
comes to prognostics of of a few
few years hence,
hence,
ing deformations
ing deformations of of surfaces
surfaces in the job
the job is is not so easy.
easy.
themselves have also been
themselves been devel-
oped,
oped, but these are are in
in competition
competition The most ambitious
The most ambitious application
application of
of
with strain
with strain gauges
gauges andand conventional
conventional holography withthe
holography with the greatest
greatest commercial
moire methods.
moire potentiality
potentiality is
isthe
theSELECTAVISION project.
SELECT A VISION project.

4. Holographic read-only
Holographic read -only stores
stores have
have It utilizes in
It in aa most
mostingenious
ingenious way way almost
been developed
been developed to to high
high perfection,
perfection, all the
all the powerful
powerful possibilities
possibilities opened
opened up
up by
by
even aa little
even little beyond the present
beyond the present holography; using
holography; using a continuously
continuously moving
needs of
needs of computers.
computers. ReadRead and
and record, but
record, but with
with frames which which stand
stand still
write stores are
write are under
under active
active and
and while every
while every point of the the picture changes
changes
promising development.
promising development. continuously
continuously in initself,
itself, it makes
makes use use of
of the
the
insensitivity of the system
insensitivity system to to the
the positioning
positioning
5. There
5. There are
are notable
notable recent improve-
improve- of the record and
of the and ofof a cheap
cheap and rapid
ments in
ments in pattern
pattern and character
and character method in
method in producing
producingthe the records
records by emboss-
by emboss-
recognition by
recognition the patient work
by the work of
of ing aa plastic
ing plastic inin the
the form
form ofof aa phase
phase hologram.
hologram.
Dr Van
Dr Van der
der Lugt;
Lugt; also,
also, of Professor
of Professor II could also add to these the
could also the fundamental
fundamental
Vie/not andhis
Vienot and his school
school in
in France. advantage
advantage of of holograms
holograms that aa fine fine gradation
gradation
132
can be
be obtained with aa recording medium
obtained with medium small
small scale, aa three -dimensional display
three-dimensional display is is
which has
which has an
an atrocious
atrocious gray
gray scale. Against
Against not worthwhile. I know
not this, because
know this, because 25 25
all these advantages
advantages stands
stands the
the old
old enemy;
enemy; years ago,
years ago, before
before I started
started on on holography,
holography, II
noise, especially
noise, especially speckle
speckle noise;
noise; and
and many
many had worked
had worked on on stereoscopic
stereoscopic moving pictures.
moving pictures.
other difficulties which
other always arise
which always arise when
when They were
They were fine
fine and
and impressive
impressive in in near-
near -
one tries to convert a successful
one tries successful laboratory natural size, but
natural but on
on the
the scale
scale ofof aa television
television
technique into mass
technique into mass manufacture. So So the screen it was
was just aa puppet
puppet theatre.
theatre. It is
outcomeofofthis
outcome thisventure
ventureisis still
still uncertain. impossible to identify oneself with with aa three-
three -
dimensional hero
dimensional hero five
five inches
inches tall,
tall, though
though
The most
The most exciting novelties in
exciting novelties in this there is
there is no
no difficulty
difficulty inin two
two dimensions.
dimensions.
Seminar
Seminar forfor me me were
were those relating to to Add aa feature
Add feature of quality and the eye asks
and the
instantaneous photography. One
instantaneous photography. One of of these
these is for another: natural dimensions.
for another: natural dimensions. When When one one
photopolymerization of
photopolymerization of monomers,
monomers, thinks of
thinks of large
large cinema
cinema theatres,
theatres, one one comes
comes
brought to a highly satisfactory level
brought to a highly satisfactory level byby the
the up against an an insuperable
insuperable information
information bottle-bottle-
Hughes Aircraft team. But
Hughes Aircraft But even more
even more neck. The
neck. only possibility
The only possibility is is a stereoscopic
stereoscopic
important
important forfor thethe future areare the
the photoplas-
photoplas- cinema with only two views
only two views of of the
the scene
tics
tics (General
(General Electric
ElectricCompany)
Company) and and the projected, and
projected, and it isis not
not the
the film
film butbut the
the
combination of
combination of photoconductors
photoconductors with with elas-
elas- screen which must must be holographic. A A holo-
holo-
tomers. In
tomers. In one
one ofof its
its forms,
forms, as as developed
developed gram, say,
say, 4040feet
feetwide
wide andand 20
20 feet
feet high
high is,
by Nicholas
by Nicholas Sheridon
SheridonofofXerox,
Xerox, thisthis is
is a of course, aa bold
of course, bold proposition,
proposition, but but itit could
could bebe
light amplifier,
light amplifier, something
something we we have
have wanted
wanted made up piecemeal. The difficulties are
The difficulties
for many
for years. It is aa remarkably
many years. remarkably simple simple considerable, but
considerable, but I see
see nono impossibility.
impossibility.
device, far simpler
device, simpler thanthan the
the only
only light
amplifier of which
amplifier which II knew
knew before,
before, the one one Perhaps the
Perhaps the most promising
promising butbut also the
by Professor
by Professor Baumann
Baumann in in Zurich,
Zurich, which
which most difficult
difficult application
application of of holography
holography is
had only
had only 200
200television
television lines.
lines. If If this new
new vision by ultrasound.
ultrasound. Holography
Holography has has made
device will
device will work
work as as well
well asas we have aa right
we have it possible to
it to see
see aa sound
sound field
field without
without
to expect,
to expect, its importance
importance will will gogo far
far beyond
beyond lenses, but
lenses, but not
not without
without some
some equivalent
equivalent of
instantaneous
instantaneous holography;
holography; it it will be the the photographic plate. II have have already
already
solution of
solution of the
the old
oldproblem
problem of of large
large screen
screen mentioned that the
mentioned that the speckle
speckle isis and
and always
always will
will
television.
television. be aa serious limitation
be limitation in in acoustical
acoustical holog-
holog-
raphy.
raphy. OneOne unavoidably
unavoidably losesloses some
some resol-
II have
have already
already mentioned the somewhatsomewhat ution which
ution which oneonecan
canillill spare.
spare. But
But one
one must
unsatisfactory state
state of
of holography
holography in in natural
natural not forget that
not forget that there
there are
are impo
impo tant
tant uses,
uses,
colors. There
colors. There is no
no fundamental
fundamental difficulty
difficulty where
where this does
does not matter
matter much. There is
much. There
in emulsions
in with even
emulsions with evenfiner
finer grain,
grain, but this
this no
no great difficulty
difficulty in detecting
detecting single
single floating
floating
will unavoidably
will unavoidablydecrease
decrease speed
speed andand further
further objects underwater,
objects under water, oror vessels,
vessels, especially
especially
enhance
enhance thethe need
need for
for even moremore powerful
powerful moving vessels.
moving vessels. The The speckle
speckle isis also of little
little
lasers, with three or more strong
lasers, with three or more strong coherent
coherent importance in
importance in the
the area
area ofof contrasty
contrasty objects,
objects,
lines or line groups
lines groups in the visible spectrum.
spectrum. well separated,
well separated, and II see
see nono great difficulty
difficulty
I have also mentioned
mentioned thethe possibility
possibility that in making
in holographic contour
making holographic contour maps
maps of the
dye lasers may
dye lasers may bebe able
able toto fill
fill this
this gap.
gap. II am bottom. II can,
sea bottom.
sea can, therefore,
therefore, say say with
with
particularly interested in
particularly in panoramic
panoramic holo-
holo- some confidence
some confidence that
that the
the considerable
considerable efforts
grams which can show
which can deep scenes,
show deep s4enes, or or even
even in acoustical holography
holography havehave not
no£ been
been spent
spent
landscapes, extending
extending toto infinity;
infinity; and
and II have
have in vain.
come
come to to the
the conclusion
conclusionthat that these,
these, too,
too, will
will
become practical
become practical only
only with improved emul- This is
This is as much
much as I believe
believe II can
can see
see at
sions and improved
sions and improvedlaser
laser sources. the moment
the moment inin my
my holographic
holographic crystal
crystal ball.
Apart from
Apart from holographic
holographic electron
electron micro-
micro- # # ##
scopy,
scopy, my favorite
favorite goose
goose which
which II would
would like
like
to see cooked
cooked is is the holographic,
holographic, three
three--
dimensional cinema. One
dimensional cinema. One attempt
attempt toward
toward
this is the
the holographic
holographic film, and and Dr
Dr De
De
Bitetto has
Bitetto has already
already done
done all
all that
that is
is possible
to reduce the information
information content
content ofof such
such
films to aa minimum.
films to minimum. The
The crux
crux is
is that
that on
on aa

133
FT:

THE AUTHOR
THE AUTHOR

DENNIS GABOR,
GABOR, C.B.E.,
C.B.E., F.R.S.
F.R.S,

Gabor, now
Professor Dennis Gabor, Emeritus of
Professor Emeritus
now Professor Applied Electronic
of Applied Electronic
Physics of the Imperial
of the College of
Imperial College Science and
of Science Technology in
and Technology London, is
in London, is
the
the inventor of the technique
of the known as
now known
technique now Holography, aa method
as Holography, method of three--
of three
photography by
lenseless photography
dimensional lenseless light in
coherent light
by coherent in which light wave
which aa light
into aa photographic
"frozen" into
issuing from an object is "frozen" emulsion by means
photographic emulsion
second beam of
of a second light. The resulting photograph or
coherent light.
of coherent hologram
or hologram
then be
can then reconstructed'by the
be reconstructed-1)y the second beam beam of alone to
light alone
of light give aa
to give
three-dimensional
three -dimensional image. Professor Gabor established technique in
established his technique
1948, when
1948, increase the resolving
when trying to increase power of
resolving power electronic micro-
of electronic
scopes; with
scopes; the coming of the laser
with the laser beam in 1961, it
in 1961, it was given a wider
application.
Born in Budapest in 1900, he
in June 1900, received his
he received first impetus
his first toward
impetus toward
father, aa businessman
from his father,
career from
future career
his future businessman with passionate interest
with aa passionate interest
in the
in field of
inventors in the field
the great inventors engineering. He studied at the
of engineering.
University in
Technical University Budapest, then
in Budapest, then in Berlin, at
in Berlin, at the Technische Hoch
the Technische Hoch--
schule at
schule at Char lot tenburg, where he obtained
Charlottenburg, diploma in
obtained aa diploma electrical engi-
in electrical
neering,
neering, and subsequently, intervening years
doctorate. In the intervening
subsequently, aa doctorate. years hehe
worked at Siemens inventing
at Siemens the molybdenum
inventing the seal in
ribbon seal
molybdenum ribbon quartz. Then in
in quartz.
1933 he
1933 he moved to British Thomas -Houston and
Thomas-Houston developed the
and developed technique of
the technique of
as "wavefront
then as
known then
holography, known reconstruction".
"wavefrontreconstruction 1948 he
11 . In 1948 he took an
University of
College, University
Imperial College,
appointment at the Imperial London, and
of London, in 1958
and in 1958 he he
appointed Professor of Applied Electronic
was appointed Professor of Applied Electronic Physics. Physics.
He professorship in
from his professorship
Hè retired from and has
1967, and
in 1967, since been
has since Professor
been Professor
Fellow of
and aa Senior Research Fellow
Emeritus and the Imperial
of the College. He is
Imperial College. is also
Staff Scientist at CBS Laboratories
at CBS Laboratories in Connecticut.
Stamford, Connecticut.
in Stamford,
Gabor has received
Dr. Gabor
Dr. recognitions of
many recognitions
received many work: Dr. Sc.
his work:
of his Hon.
Sc. Hon.
University of Southampton, 1970;
of Southampton, Dr. Sc.
1970; Dr. Technical University,
Hon. Technical
Sc. Hon. Delft,
University, Delft,
1971; Fellowship of the Royal Society,
1971; 1966; Honorary
Society, 1966; membership of
Honorary membership the
of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences; The
of Sciences; Medal; The
Young Medal;
Thomas Young
The Thomas Prize of
The Prize the
of the
Society; The Cristoforo Colombo
Royal Physical Society; Prize of
Colombo Prize Genoa; The Rumford
of Genoa;
Medal of the Royal Society;
of the Society; The Medal of
The Medal Honor of
of Honor the IEEE;
of the Semelweis
The Semelweis
IEEE; The
Commander of
and Commander
Medal; and
Medal; Order of
the Order
of the the British
of the Empire.
British Empire.
He is the author of three books: "Inventing "Inventing the the Future," "The Electron
Future," "The
Microscope,"
Microscope," andand "Innovations, Technological and
Scientific, Technological
"Innovations, Scientific, and Social;" and
Social; 11 and
of approximately 100
of transients, gas
100 papers on electrical transients, discharges,
gas discharges,
electron dynamics,
dynamics, communication theory,
theory, andand physical
physical optics.
optics.

134