Noise in high-areal-density holographic data storage systems

Digital holographic data storage using a 4f configuration enables high areal densities when the spatial light modulator pixels are large, because stacks of holograms are closer together. To minimize interstack cross talk and optimize stack sizes for interpixel cross talk, it is useful to place an aperture at the Fourier plane. A numerical algorithm based on scalar diffraction theory is developed to investigate this interplay and predict an optimum set of system design parameters.