Geometrooptical Mechanism of Wave-Front Reconstruction

Mechanism of wave-front reconstruction based on geometrooptical reflection of reconstructing radiation from the surfaces of constant phase difference between the object and the reference waves used for recording an interference pattern in a recording medium is analyzed. The mechanism is compared with the holographic one. Experimental studies in a bulk recording medium and in a planar optical waveguide are carried out. Several types of achromatic optical elements are proposed. An acousto-optic focusing element capable of inducing strong local stress inside a medium in a region of special shape is discussed. The possibility of reconstruction of temporal structure of light pulses is demonstrated.