True holographic ghost illusion

Pepper's ghost optical illusion, used in amusement parks, theaters, movies, museums, and other venues since 1862, is produced by reflected light and is often wrongly described as holographic. This paper presents an alternative illusion technique based on the use of full-color analog Denisyuk holograms mixed with real elements with the help of special lighting. The result is a stunning applied-science experiment that arouses the curiosity of even the most discerning observer, first by combining the real-world and holography on a level never before achieved, and then by creating an unexpected final effect of disappearance. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement