Projection Holograms - Physics Demonstrations - Projection Holograms | Physics Undergraduate Labs

Use only Class II or Class IIIa lasers (<5 mW) for this demonstration. Never look directly into the laser beam or view specular reflections. Block the reflected beam with appropriate beam blocks. Ensure laser is aimed away from student seating areas and cannot be accidentally redirected toward eyes. Post appropriate laser safety signage and inform students not to approach the optical setup during operation.

Purpose

Demonstrates holographic image projection using laser illumination of transmission holograms. Students see how holograms encode amplitude and phase information, and how illuminating different portions of the plate reconstructs different viewing angles of the 3D scene.

Green laser on wooden stand illuminating a holographic plate, projecting a large holographic image of a telephone onto the wall in a darkened room

Figure 1: Green laser projecting the large telephone hologram onto the wall. Adjusting the laser vertically or horizontally shifts the projected image to reveal different viewing angles.

Safety Warnings

Warning: Laser Safety - Class II/IIIa Precautions

Purpose