Holography w/ Diode Lasers?

Has anyone tried holography w/ diode lasers? Just curious... I used to experiment using HeNe. I doubt I will get into it again (too messy)... but maybe someone could post details concerning their setups (w/ modern tech) / experiences?

Yes, is possible, but you need single-mode diodes, and the more stable they are, better it is.

Common multimode diodes are not good. for that use (holograms are generated from the interference of the wavefronts, so you need light source with the more possible clear and stable wavefronts possible)

HIMNL9;

Thanks for reply; yes, I fully understand that one is photographing an ** interference pattern **, NOT the object itself. Years ago when experimenting with HeNe, I learned how the smallest vibration could muck up an hologram attempt. So (after thinking / visualizing) I can see how a mode switch could destroy the image.

I'm still new to diode lasers, though. I appreciate your pointing out possible problems with mode hopping.

I am also thinking now about multiple output frequencies... those could pose a problem as well.

Some people have adressed the issues and got interesting results:
LASER POINTER / DIODE HOLOGRAPHY
Laser Diodes for Holography
Red diode lasers for holography

anselm;

VERY GOOD links, thanks!

A long time ago my dad got me a holography kit, with glass plates and a single-mode 5mW diode laser module. No optics table, no rubber mats or anything. We just did holograms on the kitchen floor because it was linoleum on top of the house's concrete foundation. Lived on a small road, so no traffic outside, and did it at night so no planes flew over. We'd get the thing set up using a lens, and shining the laser through the plate, where it would bounce back off the object and create interference pattern back on the plate.

All we did for vibration dampening was lay down and not move, controlling our breathing for a few minutes, while letting the laser stabilize. Then, we'd move the shutter out of the way of the laser and do exposures that way.

We got some really good holograms, and after reading about it here and other places years later, I'm really quite amazed, since it seems like people have really bad luck with these without an optics table or anything.

But yeah, single-mode low-power is all you need. I don't know whether 635nm or 660nm makes a difference, this was before I got all into lasers as much as I am now.

My experience is based on mid 1970's tech and techniques ... all with HeNe lasers.

A good thing to use is a ... well, sort of a "sandbox".

Use a box filled with sand, a few inches deep. Put all of your equipment in it, in it's final configuration for your work... EXCEPT for the film / plates.

Let the whole mess "stabilize" and settle for a couple of days. THEN set up with film and attempt to make the hologram. After that, the sand tended to do a good job of minimizing any vibrations.

But I'm sure that any of the "old knowledge" that I remember from back then is extremely out of date and surpassed by more recent experimenters.

I do recall the "shoebox holography" book that I bought saying something about try adding weight to a table, and put the 4 legs in buckets of sand...