Imaging properties of computer-generated holograms: the phase distribution effect in the object’s space

In the paper, the influence of phase distribution over the objects’ space on resolution and depth of field of computer-generated holograms has been investigated. The study was carried out through mathematical simulation of real physical processes of synthesis and reconstruction of binary transparent holograms. The possibility of a significant increase (up to several times) in the resolution and depth of field of the reconstructed image because of using phase-shift masks was found. Moreover, this increase was achieved due to representation of the object wave in hologram synthesis as a superposition of object waves emanating light from two identical objects located at different, strictly fixed distances from the hologram synthesis plane.