The application of dichromated gelatine transmission holograms as holo
graphic optical elements for permutation components is demonstrated. T
hese holographic deflection elements will be used as permutation compo
nents in a demonstrator for an optoelectronic switching network workin
g with 1 GHz per channel. The use of a standard holographic material a
nd recording process for faceted holograms for infrared light at 1.5 m
u m is investigated. The important parameters such as refractive index
modulation of the gelatine, angular selectivity and scattering are in
vestigated and compared with the corresponding results for visible lig
ht. It is shown that it is possible to produce holograms for infrared
light with similar diffraction efficiencies to those for visible light
.