Experimental and theoretical investigation of the pixel saturation effect in digital holography

This paper presents an experimental investigation and an analytical modeling of the nonlinear pixel saturation effect in digital off-axis holography. The theoretical analysis is based on a semiempirical modeling and supported by the experimental analysis. Taking into account the nonlinearity of the phenomenon, an exponential law for the high-order harmonic amplitude is proposed and validated by the experimental results. The conclusion of this analysis is that the saturation effect can be described by the use of a linear operator that involves autoconvolution of the initial object wave, even though the saturation phenomenon is nonlinear.