<title>Spectral selectivity of volume holograms: two limiting cases</title>

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper presents an analysis of the property of spectral selectivity of volume holograms. Recent developments inholographic materials give an opportunity to vary the hologram thickness in a wide range (from several micrometers up toseveral millimeters), that allows to achieve magnitudes of spectral selectivity within the range from microns down to partsof Angstrom. In the paper both the two limiting cases are considered basing on the experimental results and theoreticalevaluations.Keywords: holography, spectral selectivity, solar concentrators, spectral filters, recording media. 1. INTRODUCTION One of the most attractive properties of volume holograms is their high diffraction efficiency (close to 100%), that makesthem rather promising for a wide range of applications. On the other hand volume holograms possess high spectral andangular selectivity. In some cases such highly selective holograms can find wide applications, for instance, in three-dimensional imaging, diffractive optical elements, holographic storage, etc. Although, in some cases so high selectivity isundesirable, and it is necessary to avoid it.In the present paper we illustrate the selective properties of volume holograms on the two limiting cases:(1) very thin and most possibly spectrally unselective volume holograms designed to operate as solar concentrators andspectrum splitters for photovoltaic applications; and(2) very thick and most possibly selective volume holograms to be used as narrowband spectral filters.Correspondence: E-mail: Irina.Semen@pop.ioffe.rssi.ru, Fax: 7-812-2471017