Holography used in telecommunications

[ElectroFractal]

TL;DR Summary

I am curious to know if holography is used in telecommunications or if there is research on this topic.

Hi PF!

I am interested to know whether there are applications of holography in telecommunications, and if there is research on this topic. If there is some literature on this topic (provided holography is used in computer networking) where I can read and learn more in-depth about this topic, I will appreciate it very much

Thanks in advance!

 

[Baluncore]

You won't be happy.
The only application I can think of is the accurate surface mapping of parabolic reflector dishes using off-axis microwave signals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_interferometry

 

[tech99]

In the 1970s we used to occasionally test microwave links by raising an antenna up the mast from ground level. The received power varied in a rippling manner as height was increased, depending on the path. The cause of this ripple is that the direct signal (which may be considered the reference) combines with a delayed ground reflected signal and the two combine as phasors. I realized that this set up is creating a hologram, as with light. The ripple is a holographic image of the path. However, was never able to try and read-back the final plot in some sort of holographic way, such as with a laser, so never tested it. I suppose today a computer could analyse the information directly. I imagine the result would just be the location of any ground reflected images.

 

[Baluncore]

I realized that this set up is creating a hologram, as with light.

Amplitude alone is insufficient. By using a separate fixed antenna as a phase reference, then recording the amplitude and the phase as you raise the antenna, you will have a hologram.

 

[tech99]

My understanding was that the hologram captures the phase information within the interference pattern, so that a separate phase measurement is not required.

 

[cosmik debris]

You need a phase reference. In an optical system you use two different paths for the light, the light reflected from an object and another beam coherent with the first but taking a different path to the recording medium thus acting as a phase reference.