Computer‐generated holograms: A simplified ray‐tracing approach

A method that allows holograms to be generated by computer is described. The conventional ray‐tracing algorithm is simplified by the use of a real‐valued numerical simulation instead of making computations for the complex‐valued field. Output via a laser printer and conventional photographic methods has yielded excellent fidelity in the reconstructed images of three‐dimensional objects with simple geometries. Increasing computation capacity may allow routine application of this real‐valued algorithm for displaying Magnetic Resonance Image data.