Jesús Atencia

Characterization of volume holographic optical elements recorded in Bayfol HX photopolymer for solar photovoltaic applications.

Volume Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) present interesting characteristics for photovoltaic applications as they can select spectrum for concentrating the target bandwidth and avoiding non-desired wavelengths, which can cause the decrease of the performance on the cell, for instance by overheating it. Volume HOEs have been recorded on Bayfol HX photopolymer to test the suitability of this material for solar concentrating photovoltaic systems. The HOEs were recorded at 532 nm and provided a dynamic range, reaching close to 100% efficiency at 800 nm. The diffracted spectrum had a FWHM of 230 nm when illuminating at Bragg angle. These characteristics prove HOEs recorded on Bayfol HX photopolymer are suitable for concentrating solar light onto photovoltaic cells sensitive to that wavelength range.

Broadband behavior of transmission volume holographic optical elements for solar concentration

A ray tracing algorithm is developed to analyze the energy performance of transmission and phase volume holographic lenses that operate with broadband illumination. The agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical treatment has been tested. The model has been applied to analyze the optimum recording geometry for solar concentration applications.

Characterization of transmission volume holographic gratings recorded in Slavich PFG04 dichromated gelatin plates

We characterize Slavich PFG-04 dichromated gelatin plates to make transmission volume holographic elements recorded with a 532 nm laser source, obtaining high efficiency gratings with a high signal to noise ratio. The linear dynamic range of the material is studied by measuring the efficiency of multiplexed gratings. Results obtained are applied to the recording of holographic elements with high efficiency when they are illuminated with a 800 nm light source.

Silver halide sensitized gelatin process effects in holographic lenses recorded on Slavich PFG-01 plates

In this work we study the feasibility of using silver halide sensitized gelatin based on PFG-01 (Slavich) emulsions to construct uniaxial compound lenses. This processing is able to introduce variations in the thickness and refractive index of the emulsion. We prove that these changes are not sufficient to provide the observed variations in Bragg conditions in the reconstruction and that a shear-type effect must exist to explain the performance of processed emulsions. We study the characteristics of a compound lens, obtaining acceptable image quality, good resolution, and the typical field limitation of volume holographic elements.

HOE recording with non-spherical waves

A general study of third-order aberrations of aspheric holographic optical elements is described, including the effect of wavefront deviation from construction waves on the total aberration. Third-order aberration coefficients for a plane parallel glass plate referred to a general case in which the optical axes are not normal to the plate surfaces are calculated. This theoretical development is used to optimize the glass plate substrate aberration contribution in a holographic compound system used for optical image formation.

Field improvement in a uniaxial centered lens composed of two stacked-volume holographic elements

Arrangements are described for the recording of volume holograms with two sections that, when stacked together, work as uniaxial centered lenses and allow one to solve the problem of angular selectivity in the imaging of wide objects. The performance of such systems is examined qualitatively, and suggestions aimed at improving these designs are proposed.

Partitioned-field uniaxial holographic lenses

The efficiency and aberration of partitioned-field uniaxial volume holographic compound lenses are theoretically and experimentally studied. These systems increase the image fields of holographic volume lenses, limited by the angular selectivity that is typical of these elements. At the same time, working with uniaxial systems has led to a decrease in aberration because two recording points (that behave as aberration-free points) are used. The extension of the image field is experimentally proved.

Anamorphic white light Fourier processor with holographic lenses

Two anamorphic and achromatic Fourier processors were designed and constructed using diffractive and refractive cylindrical lenses. The diffractive lenses are holographic lenses recorded on silver halide material. In both processors the achromatic one-dimensional Fourier transform plane was obtained with two holographic lenses and one refractive cylindrical lens. The image with the same magnification in both directions at the output plane was formed with two different combinations of lenses. The differences between the two processors are analyzed, and in both cases the chromatic aberration in the Fourier plane and in the output plane is evaluated. Even though single cylindrical refractive lenses were used to image in one direction, good results were obtained.

Partitioned-field holographic lenses composed of three noncentered uniaxial systems

Partitioned-field uniaxial volume holographic lenses increase the image fields of holographic volume lenses that are limited by angular selectivity. The efficiency and aberrations of one of these systems consisting of two overlapping uniaxial noncentered lenses were reported previously [Appl. Opt. 38, 4011 (1999)]. In the present study we present theoretical and experimental extensions of these systems to three overlapping lenses, showing how the dynamic range of the recording material can cause an important decrease in efficiency when several gratings are superposed on the same plate.

Ray tracing for holographic optical element recording with non-spherical waves

We describe the basis for the ray tracing procedure in aspheric holographic optical elements to include the effect of non-spherical construction waves on local grating. We propose an algorithm to determine the effect of plane-parallel glass-plate substrate on local grating of holographic lenses. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated by comparing spot diagrams obtained from ray tracing with the image spots produced by a real system using the Hartmann test. The theoretical development is used to prove the compensation of the glass-plate substrate aberration contribution in a holographic compound system for optical image formation.