Effect of intensity quantization level in parallel phase-shifting digital holography

Parallel phase-shifting digital holography (PPSDH) enables the instantaneous recording of three-dimensional fields. The three-dimensional field can be reconstructed using a computer by numerical scalar wave propagation. In PPSDH, we record a space-division multiplexed hologram that includes the required phase retardation in the spatial distribution of the reference wave and then interpolate the data at blanked pixels for each phase retardation to obtain the complex amplitude distribution of an object wave. The recorded quality of the multiplexed hologram influences the reconstruction quality. In this study, we investigate the effect of the intensity quantization of a multiplexed hologram on the reconstruction quality. We compare the influence of intensity quantization in PPSDH with that in the conventional phase-shifting method. Random noise is also added to the multiplexed hologram. The required intensity quantization level is helpful for selecting a digital image sensor. (C) 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics