Reconstruction of phase-shift digital holograms with unknown phase-shift by Fourier fringe analysis

A new technique is proposed that enables reconstruction of phase-shift digital holograms with unknown phase shifts. The technique is based on the phase-shift technique combined with the Fourier transform technique to have the advantages of these two techniques. First the unknown phase shifts are determined by the Fourier transform technique, and then the complex field recorded in the digital hologram is obtained by the phase shift technique using the knowledge of the phase shifts. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the validity of the principle.