An image and Fourier plane analysis is presented of the polarization states
of the read-out wavefront transmitted through a photorefractive crystal wh
en a non-holographic register of a binary object is produced. The incident
read-out light is linearly polarized and the physical parameters that deter
mine the output ellipticity of the transmitted light are the crystal thickn
ess, the applied field and the rotary power. The contrast of the output ima
ge as well as the relative weight of each diffraction order is controlled b
y properly setting a linear polarizer. The calculations are in good agreeme
nt with the experimental results.