Multichannel correlation by color multiplexing

In this work we present a new method to increase the information storage ca pability of computer generated holographic filters used in Vander Lugt type optical correlators. The holograms are generated by means of the usual met hods but color reversal films are used instead of the traditional black and white binary output. The technique consists of storing different parts of the total information in complementary color channels, which is performed b y encoding one binary hologram in each color channel. Then, this informatio n is processed in the optical correlator by using a light source with wavel engths corresponding to these colors. A comparison between the results obta ined experimentally and those corresponding to numerical simulations is sho wn. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.