Pierre-Alexandre Blanche, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor

Contact Information
Email: pablanche@optics.arizona.edu
1630 East University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721
Tel: (520)626-5389

The Holographic 3D display project

Abstract

The aim of this project is to generate refreshable holographic 3D images using a photorefractive polymer material.

Photorefractive polymers are organic materials that change their index of refraction when illuminated (see this section). So they can be used as a holographic recording medium. Prof. Peyghambarian's group study those materials since more than 10 years and has been the on the forefront in major discoveries on that topic.

Photorefractive materials are now mature for applications and we are developing a large display playing 3D images that can be erased and refreshed within a few minutes. The current performance of the display are: 6X6 inches size, monochromatic (red or green) 256 gray levels, 2 minute recording time, 30 seconds erasing time, 2 hours viewing time, no material degradation over 2 years.

Other target applications are: laser beam amplification, signal restoration, non-destructive testing, data storage …

Publications

• P.-A. Blanche et al., “An updatable holographic display for 3D visualization”, IEEE Journal of Display Technology, Special Issue on Medical Displays , invited paper, vol.4, n°4, pp 424-430, (2008). pdf
• N. Peyghambarian et al., “Rewritable holographic 3-D displays”, optics and Photonics News , invited paper, Vol.19, No. 7/8, pp 22-27 and cover, July/August 2008. pdf
• S. Tay et al., “An updateable holographic 3D display”, Nature 451, 694 698 (2008). pdf

Images and videos (click to play or enlarge)