Recording of Fourier holograms using radiation emitted from pulse semiconductor lasers

An experimental investigation was made of the coherence of the radiation emitted from pulse semiconductor lasers and theoretical estimates were obtained of the influence of the coherence on the density of binary data recorded in a hologram of given size. The coherence measurements were carried out in the near-field zone of the laser radiation. The interference pattern contrast was measured photographically. The experimental study of the coherence indicated that Fourier holograms characterized by a high density of binary data could be recorded using pulse semiconductor lasers. The density of the data recorded in a hologram reached 0.7·10³ bit/mm².