Applications of Microwave Holography

The principle of holography is applicable not only to light waves but also to microwaves and acoustic waves. Light, microwave and acoustic waves are similar in that they are all wave phenomena but they are quite different in the way they interact with material media. For example, a medium which is opaque to light waves may be transparent to microwaves and acoustic waves. There are certain advantages in using microwaves in place of light waves in holography, one of which is that the wavelength of the microwave is about 10⁵times larger than that of light, thus making it easier to manipulate the fringe pattern. Another advantage is that microwave sources radiating with long-term stability are readily available.