Lippmann plate

Lippmann won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1908 "for his method of reproducing colours photographically based on the phenomenon of interference".

When it is exposed in the camera through the glass side of the plate, the light rays which strike the transparent light-sensitive film are reflected back on themselves and, by interference, create standing waves.

Another reason Lippmann's process of colour photography did not succeed can be found in the invention of the autochrome plates by the Lumière brothers.

[13] Work began on the project after they were made aware data storage on the International Space Station requires daily maintenance because it can be damaged by cosmic rays and they recalled that silver halide would not be significantly affected by astroparticles (or even electromagnetic pulses from nuclear explosions).

150 standing-wave storage samples placed on the ISS during 2019 showed no signs of data degradation after exposure to cosmic rays for nine months.

Early colour photograph (circa 1891–1899) by Lippmann of the Matterhorn
An artist wearing gloves pours liquid salt collodion onto a glass plate.
To create a Lippmann plate, a light-sensitive emulsion of silver halide dispersed in gelatin is coated onto a glass photographic plate (Shown here: collodion solution ) . Later, the back is painted black and a prism is glued to the front to control reflection.