Resolution limitations in holographic images.

The maximum resolution in the images of a given object produced by the holographic method using a single record in which only one wave parameter is stored at each point on the wavefront is shown to be one-half as great as that which could be obtained without any increase in the size or resolution capability of the recording if two parameters were recorded, the hologram being the aperture stop in each case. In lensless holography using plane reference waves for recording and reconstruction with a one-parameter hologram approximately equal to the object in size, the resolution is shown to be significantly less than the nominal photographic resolution of the recording medium.