Scientists at the University of Arizona have developed what they claim is the first updatable, 3-D holographic display. Viewable without special eyewear, the 4×4-in. prototype features a photorefractive polymer between two pieces of electrode-coated glass. The system writes images onto the light-sensitive polymer using laser pulses and an externally applied electric field. The display can produce a new image in about three minutes.
With medical applications in mind, the researchers hope to produce displays as large as 3×3 feet and produce full-color holographic images.
University of Arizona, www.arizona.edu
Caption
A prototype holographic display shows the erasing process (top row) and 3-D perspective (bottom two rows), which could prove invaluable in military and medical applications.
