Phase Holograms in Dichromated Gelatin

The gelatin-dichromate photosensitive system has been shown to be very efficient as a recording medium for both two- and three-dimensional holographic gratings. Upon development, as much as 33% of incident reading light is diffracted into the first order for the unmodulated thin phase gratings and 95% for the thick holograms. The material can record a grating spacing at least as small as 2600 A, and gives reconstructions comparable with those obtained in 649F film. The air-gelatin index differential of 0.54 is considered responsible for the high diffracted powers found. Exposures vary from 3 mJ to 150 mJ at 4880 A. Certain films have speeds within two orders of magnitude of 649F holographic film.