Overview
ISO 17901-1:2015 - Optics and photonics - Holography - Part 1 defines standardized methods for measuring diffraction efficiency and associated optical characteristics of holograms. It establishes terms, coordinate conventions and measurement principles for holograms that yield a simple diffraction pattern (reconstructed waves clearly separable from other diffracted/non‑diffracted waves). The standard is material‑agnostic (no restriction on hologram recording materials) and is the basis for consistent, comparable optical characterization of holograms.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and definitions: precise terms for holograms, object/reference/illuminating/reconstructed waves, transmission/reflection/volume/surface‑relief holograms, Q‑value, diffraction efficiency, angular and wavelength selectivity.
- Measurement principles: defines absolute and relative diffraction efficiency measurements, and measurement of angular selectivity and wavelength selectivity as functions of incidence angle and wavelength.
- Coordinate system: hologram plane = xy, z axis normal to plane; sign conventions for incident and reconstructed waves.
- Measurement environment: dark room, room temperature, stable relative humidity, and control of stray light.
- Required instrumentation:
- Light source with high temporal stability (example: ±5% or better over 30 min for lasers).
- Mirrors with surface accuracy (example: better than 1/10 wavelength).
- Calibrated detectors with appropriate dynamic range.
- Monochromator with ~1 nm spectral resolution or better.
- Integrating sphere (high‑reflectance inner coating; barium sulfate as typical coating).
- Measurement methods covered: absolute diffraction efficiency, relative diffraction efficiency, spectral diffraction efficiency by transmittance (volume holograms), spectral diffraction efficiency by reflectance (volume holograms), angular selectivity, wavelength selectivity.
- Reporting: standardized description of measurement results and conditions to ensure repeatability and traceability.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO 17901-1 is practical for:
- Hologram manufacturers and quality control labs (display, AR/VR optics, diffraction elements).
- Optical engineers and R&D teams developing holographic optical elements.
- Security printing and anti‑counterfeiting specialists validating holographic features.
- Metrology and test laboratories seeking reproducible measurements and inter‑laboratory comparability.
Benefits include consistent performance metrics, reliable comparison between products/processes, and clear test-reporting requirements.
Related standards
- ISO 17901-2: Methods for measurement of hologram recording characteristics (companion document).
- ISO 15902: Diffractive optics - Vocabulary (normative reference used for terms).
Keywords: ISO 17901-1, holography standard, diffraction efficiency measurement, angular selectivity, wavelength selectivity, optics and photonics, hologram testing, measurement methods.