Holographic recording in reflection geometry offers high lateral image reso
lution (necessary to analyze microscopically structured objects, e.g. biolo
gical cellular structures) and a compact and simple setup (Denisyuk hologra
phy). Our aim is to combine this high resolution three-dimensional imaging
with holographic double-exposure interferometry to allow the analysis of a
dynamic process on the microscopic scale. We derive analytic expressions fo
r gain and diffraction efficiency valid for arbitrary optical activity (and
thus not only for Bi12SiO20 but also for Bi12TiO20 crystals). The theoreti
cal predictions agree convincingly both with the experimental data publishe
d in [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14 (1997) 1179] and with our experimental data. (C
) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.