3D display prototype enabled by a new Fresnel hologram algorithm

The tunable absorption/emission profiles of quantum dots combined with local excitation due to two photon absorption provides many exciting opportunities for applications such as displays. Here, we present a 3D holographic display prototype exploiting a novel holographic approach by exciting a quantum dot solution at multiple planes simultaneously. We developed a computer generated hologram algorithm [2] which can generate a single Fresnel hologram, capable of projecting multi-plane images. The resulting 3D image is of high-quality and low cross-talk. The algorithm utilizes both iterative Fourier transform algorithms and Fresnel holography in a combined strategy. In experiments, we used a femtosecond fiber laser to excite the solution which have absorption/emission peaks around 400/610 nm. We used the algorithm to optically reconstruct 6 well-separated points in 3D to create a helix with dimensions of 3 x 3 x 15 mm. This approach is promising for dynamic 3D displays with high frame rate and contrast. Results are scalable to real-time calculation, provide full focal control and are achieved with a single spatial light modulator.
[1] O. Tokel et al., S6.4 of Nat. Photonics 11, 639–645 (2017).