Eight-level programmable binary optics system using cascaded ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators

Seth E. Broomfield; Mark A. A. Neil; Edward G. S. Paige

doi:10.1117/12.219512

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15 September 1995 Eight-level programmable binary optics system using cascaded ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators

Seth E. Broomfield, Mark A. A. Neil, Edward G. S. Paige

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Proceedings Volume 2540, Current Developments in Optical Design and Engineering V; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.219512
Event: SPIE's 1995 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

We present a novel method for producing arbitrary valued, binary phase-only modulation from a commercially available ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator (FLCSLM) used in conjunction with simple polarization components. Three such stages can be cascaded together in an instrument capable of producing up to eight discrete, equally spaced levels of phase modulation. By using 128 by 128 pixel FLCSLMs a reconfigurable, pixellated, eight-level, optical phase modulator has been constructed which we refer to here as a programmable phase transformer (PPT). We report on the near diffraction limited performance of such an instrument when stopped down to 64 by 64 pixels in producing simple diffraction patterns and when used to generate asymmetric spot arrays in the Fourier plane of a lens. We also discuss the limitations of the current system and the projected improvements that will result from current and future developments in device technology and modulation schemes.

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Seth E. Broomfield, Mark A. A. Neil, and Edward G. S. Paige "Eight-level programmable binary optics system using cascaded ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators", Proc. SPIE 2540, Current Developments in Optical Design and Engineering V, (15 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.219512

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