Diffraction from a one-beam generated hologram on a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film

Holographic ring patterns are generated by a single beam (Ar+ laser) incide nt onto a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film. The incident laser beam initially acts as a writing beam, and then induces 'point' light sourc es due to micron-sized particles in the film. Interference between the inci dent beam and the induced 'point' light sources then produces holographic r ing patterns, which are permanently recorded in situ on the film. After rec ording, the incident beam becomes a reference beam and reconstructs the 'po int' source wavefronts. The interference amongst these reconstructed 'point ' light sources produces a Quetelet-type scattering ring in a screen placed behind the PDLC film. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.