Volume hologram multiplexing using a deterministic phase encoding method

Abstract We present a novel phase encoding method for high capacity optical data storage in volume photorefractive materials. Using deterministic orthogonal phase codes in a reference-based multiplexing technique, we obtain a system that is able to retrieve multiple images with high diffraction efficiency without energy losses, adjustment problems or any time delay. The number of images which can be stored with that method is theoretically calculated and it is shown that image retrieval without any crosstalk is possible. Moreover, the method is experimentally demonstrated for a set of four orthogonal phase addresses. Actual limitations of the system are finally discussed.