This article provides a historical review of the origins of holography, placing particular emphasis on the contributions made by Gabor, Denisyuk and Leith to the development of holographic techniques. First of all the physical basis of holography is discussed: interference and difraction, together with the processes involved in recording and reconstructing holograms. The article finishes with a brief description of some of the most important applications of holography in the fields of science, technology and art.
holography; history of physics; applications of holography
