Edge enhancement and edge-enhanced correlation with photorefractive polymers

We demonstrate a simple all-optical realization of programmable edge enhanc ement and edge-enhanced correlation using novel photorefractive polymers. W e show that the higher non-Bragg order in a two-beam coupling scheme contai ns the edge enhancement of the object when placed in the path of one of the incident beams. Also, this arrangement provides a scheme for writing joint transform correlation dynamic holograms, which can be read by a third beam . The correlation is edge enhanced, and the correlation peak increases with the applied bias voltage. Numerical results without and with beam fanning are presented. Theoretical predictions are reconciled with experimental res ults. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America. OCIS codes: 190.5330, 190.7070, 100.2980, 100.4550, 090.2900.