We describe a new method for recording spatially incoherent common-path off-axis color digital holograms. We present the theoretical and experimental evidence to demonstrate an incoherent common-path off-axis color digital holographic (ICOCH) system capable of capturing information from three-dimensional color objects under incoherent illumination, both in transmission and reflection modes. Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH), a common-path system, is a frequently used incoherent holography technique. Our proposed system is conceptually similar to an advanced form of FINCH; moreover, it has three advantages over this advanced form of FINCH. First, removal of the spatial light modulator makes our system simpler and more cost-effective. Second, removal of the polarizer or analyzer allows for greater light throughput. Third, the off-axis optical configuration enables separation of zero-order and twin images with only a single exposure per color rather than requiring three exposures per color for in-line holography FINCH. Therefore, we believe that this simple and cost-effective system with high light throughput can acquire incoherent holograms for different colors involving single exposure for each color, which makes the ICOCH system suitable for many applications.
We present a spatially incoherent dual path Fourier holographic system. Conceptually it is similar to Fourier incoherent single channel holography (FISCH). Although our incoherent off-axis Fourier holographic (IOFH) system does not have the robustness of a single channel system, it has three advantages over FISCH, with two being quite obvious from setup. First, no SLM is required, thus making the system simple and cost-effective. Second, it is capable of high light throughput because in FISCH, the use of SLM reduces light intensity in half by splitting one beam into two; furthermore, an analyzer is required to create interference which also reduces light intensity. The third advantage, which makes this IOFH system applicable even for on-axis samples (as opposed to samples in a half plane as is necessary for FISCH), is achieved by tilting one mirror. Here we demonstrate our system with a sample in half plane as in FISCH for different axial positions, and then by placing the object on an optical axis and tilting one mirror. The reconstructed images demonstrate holographic capabilities of our IOFH system for both on-axis and half plane sample locations.
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