The recording and replay of true edge-lit holograms

The concept of holograms lit from their edge is not new. Schemes proposed by Benton, Caulfield and later Soviet workers have revived an interest in this topic primarily because of the convenience and applicability of this type of display. The present authors examine the rigorous basis of the problem and propose an alternative strategy to those of current interest: that the serial-parallel conflict of the reference feed is resolvable by a more subtle understanding of the physics of near total internal reflection optical geometry. Experimental results are discussed in relation to differing recording media