Real-time holographic interferometry using photorefractive sillenite crystals with phase-stepping technique

This work presents a holographic interferometer that uses the photorefractive sillenite crystals in diffusive regimen whose configuration exhibits diffraction anisotropy for real-time holographic interferometry. The writing–reading process of holographic interferogram was done in real-time, connected with an interferogram-analysis method that uses the phase-stepping technique for quantitative measurement of changes on an object. The holographic interferograms from the analyzed surface were captured and they were used to calculate the phase map with four-frame technique. The unwrapping process used was the cellular-automata technique. We obtained quantitative results for some applications: measurements of micro-rotation of surfaces, punctual micro-displacements on an aluminum plate, stress on a dog's jaw, among others; adding new promising applications possibilities for basic research, dentistry and technological areas.