Variable Polarization of Plane Waves Reconstructed Via Photorefractive Volume Holography

Date of Award

5-1-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Physics

First Advisor

Raphael A. Guerrero, PhD

Abstract

Recording and reconstruction of polarization states via photorefractive volume holography are implemented. Recording and reconstruction of linear polarization states with identical and perpendicular recording beams are conducted. The reconstruction for identical polarization recording is done using linear polarization states of varying rotation angles as readout beams. Recording a circular polarization state with identical reference and object beam is also performed. The recorded polarization state is reconstructed using circular, horizontal, diagonal, and vertical polarization states as readout beams. Intensity profiles show agreement with theory. Polarization states for reconstructed horizontal and vertical states are rotated by 10 degrees clockwise and 47.7 degrees counterclockwise, respectively. The reconstruction of the horizontal polarization state exhibits high significant differences and diffraction efficiency (0.0533%). Reconstruction for perpendicular recording shows no significant differences in the diffraction efficiencies by using linear polarization states at varying rotation angles as readout beams. When reconstructing a circular polarization state with circular, horizontal, and vertical polarization states as readout beams, a 40-degree rotation of a diagonal polarization state is detected. There are no significant differences in the diffraction efficiencies when horizontal (1.307%), diagonal (0.741%), and circular polarizations (0.0596%) were used as readout beams but a significant difference is observed with the use of a vertical polarization state as readout beam (0.294%). Changes in polarization states and the dependence of the diffraction efficiencies on the polarization angle provide the bases for intensity tuning of the reconstructed hologram and security in data retrieval. The theoretical model applied in this study captures the experimental results and is consistent with the current literature. This work proves that photorefractive materials continue to be effective media for various holographic applications.

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