On-axis computer-generated holograms for three-dimensional display.

The feasibility of on-axis synthetic near-field amplitude holograms for three-dimensional display applications is demonstrated. An iterative optimization algorithm is used that generates an object-dependent diffuser that utilizes the phase and, to some extent, amplitude freedoms in the reconstruction plane. The discrimination between twin images and undiffracted terms is thus improved. The on-axis approach presents important advantages: a low coherence requirement for the illuminating source, a lower spacebandwidth and higher viewing angle than with the off-axis alternatives. Defocusing and parallax are experimentally attained with an extended white-light source and a lensless setup.