Real-time image subtraction and addition using two cross-polarized phase-conjugate waves

Abstract A method of real-time image subtraction and addition is demonstrated with an erythrosin-B-doped polyvinyl alcohol film. In a degenerate four-wave mixing configuration consisting of two-step processing, this dye-doped film acts as an image-encoded hologram in the first step and also as a phase conjugator in the second step. In the second step, an image subtraction or addition can be performed by observing two mutually cross-polarized phase-conjugate waves through an analyzer.