Oblique-Incidence Characteristics of a Parallel-Aligned Nematic-Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We have developed optically-addressed and electrically-addressed liquid crystal spatial phase-only light modulators having no pixelized structures. We obtained a large depth of phase-only modulation and high diffraction efficiency based on the electro-optical characteristics of a parallel-aligned nematic liquid crystal. These spatial light modulators (SLM) are of the reflection type, so there would be a loss of power in the readout light from the half mirror, which was set up so as to separate the incident and reflected lights. To optimize the characteristics of a reflection type spatial phase-only light modulator, we have proposed an oblique incident optical readout setup. We have examined the effect of conditions such as the polarization direction and the incidence angle of the readout light, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the SLM. High diffraction efficiency close to the theoretical maximum value was obtained by adjusting the above conditions. The simulation analysis can well explain the experimental results of phase modulation.     

Non-linear response of liquid crystal spatial light modulators

This technical note outlines the results of a series of experiments performed on two spatial light modulators. The two modulators were a Hughes Corporation LCLV and an optically-addressed ferroelectric liquid crystal SLM fabricated by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Displaytech. These experiments were performed to determine the modulated response of the read beam as a function of the write light intensity.     

Prototype Demonstration of Discrete Correlation Processor-2 Based on High-Speed Optical Image Steering for Large-Fan-Out Reconfigurable Optical Interconnections

We present a discrete correlation processor-2 (DCP-2), which is an optical processor with reconfigurability of interconnection patterns for large-fan-out optical interconnection systems. To our knowledge, there is no reconfigurable optical processor satisfying the requirements for large fan-outs such as high-speed reconfiguration of interconnection pattern, high optical efficiency, and high contrast ratio, because existing spatial light modulators (SLM#x0027;s) lack at least one of these features. The DCP-2 architecture fulfills the requirements by using a hybrid configuration composed of a high-speed image steerer and a spatial light modulator, which work in a complementary manner to shorten the setup time of the SLM. We constructed two kinds of prototype demonstrators based on this architecture. In the experiment, reconfiguration speed of the DCP-2 prototype with shift-invariant optical interconnections, in which a liquid crystal SLM cooperated with a two-dimensional acousto-optic beam deflector, was about 26,000 times faster than that of the standalone SLM at the cost of 50#x0025; energy loss by the deflector.     

Resolution improvement of surface plasmon-enhanced, liquid crystal spatial light modulator: Simulation studies

Spatial resolution is an important performance characteristic of spatial light modulators (SLM). One of the key factors affecting the spatial resolution of liquid crystal (LC)-based SLM is the fringing field effect. This effect can be reduced in thin LC cells with corresponding reduction in the electro-optical response. A strong electro-optic response in thin LC layer can be attained using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. While SPR-based LC SLMs were already demonstrated about 15 years ago, their development has been hampered in part by low resolution, due to the finite propagation length of the surface plasmons (SPs). A fine patterning of the metal layer supporting the propagation of SPs is studied as a possible solution for reducing the spatial blurring associated with the long propagation length of SPs. The results of detailed computer simulations showing improved resolution SPR-LC-SLM are presented.     

Synthesis and reconstruction of computer generated holograms by a double pass technique on a twisted nematic-based liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Achieving phase only modulation from a spatial light modulator (SLM) is useful for many optical processing tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate a simple method of decoupling phase and amplitude modulation in a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TNLC) SLM using a double pass technique. A Jones calculus model is developed which matches our experimental data.     

液晶空间光调制器在光信息综合实验中的应用

提出了一种把液晶空间光调制器应用于光电信息综合实验的光学实验系统。系统中的空间光调制器采用光寻址液晶光阀和电寻址液晶光阀。给出了利用这一系统开设的四个光学信息处理实验。实践表明,该系统具有较好的教学效果。     

Nonmechanical Optical Manipulation of Microparticle Using Spatial Light Modulator

A spatial light modulator (SLM) is introduced to an optical manipulation system. The real-time reconfigurable feature of the SLM makes it possible to perform an optical manipulation of microparticles without mechanical movements of optical parts. A liquid crystal SLM incorporated in the system forms a Fresnel zone plate (FZP). The beam spot generated by the FZP is imaged on a sample solution by reduction optics. A microparticle in the sample solution is trapped by the beam and manipulated by changing the addressing position of the FZP onto the SLM from a computer. The nonmechanical optical manipulation of microparticles is demonstrated for the first time.     

采用液晶空间光调制器进行激光光束的空间整形

提出采用液晶空间光调制器进行激光束的实时,可调控光束空间整形的新方法,研究了液晶空间光调制器的光学调制特性,用液晶空间光调制器衬时产生的软边切趾光阑与空间滤波器结合,有效地对任意光束进行空间整形,获得光束填充因子高,近“平顶”光强的光束近场分布。     

平行排列液晶器件的波前调制特性

设计了一种新型的平行排列液晶相位调制器(LC PM),可在纯相位的模式下进行相位调制,研究了液晶相位调制器的光学特性,理论上给予了分析．对畸变波前进行了调制,在1 cm2的校正面积上,调制后的准确度PV(peak to valley)值接近λ／15(λ=0.6328 μm),RMS(Root Means Square)可达到λ／100,斯特列尔比SR (Strehl Ratio)达到0.989．改变了传统的扭曲向列液晶器件难于进行纯相位调制和得到高准确度调制的缺点,达到了理想的效果.     

基于空间光调制器的计算全息成像特性

把基于高分辨空间光调制器(SLM)的动态计算全息波面变换系统看作一个相干光学成像系统,分析并推导了该系统的点扩展函数（PSF）,进而研究了SLM像素结构所引起的固有切趾和展宽效应. 通过计算机模拟考察了SLM填充因子和衍射距离对系统分辨率的影响,给出了满足抽样定理所要求的系统的最小衍射距离. 最后提出了一种消除SLM像素结构影响的物波频谱预处理方法. 这一研究为优化系统设计,完善波面变换系统提供了新的途径.     

采用液晶空间光调制器的可控性阵列菲涅耳波带片

利用液晶空间光调制器的光学调制特性,实现阵列数与焦长可调控的阵列菲涅耳波带片,并给出了理论分析和实验结果,该方法操作简单、具有实时可调控的优点.     

Nonlinear response studies and corrections for a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

The nonlinear response of light transmission characteristics of a liquid crystal (LC) spatial light modulator (SLM) is studied. The results show that the device exhibits a wide range of variations with different control parameters and input settings. Experiments were performed to obtain intensity modulation that is best described by either power-law or sigmoidal functions. Based on the inverse transformation, an appropriate pre-processing scheme for electrically addressed input gray-scale images, particularly important in several optical processing and imaging applications, is suggested. Further, the necessity to compensate the SLM image nonlinearities in a volume holographic data storage and retrieval system is demonstrated.     

基于像素结构空间光调制器的全息再现像问题研究

基于纯相位空间光调制器的全息显示系统在重构显示时,再现像的视觉效果受到空间光调制器像素结构引起的多级衍射光和多级再现像的干扰。在分析具有有限填充因子空间光调制器的像素结构对再现像影响的基础上,提出了一种提高全息再现像的视觉效果并且再现像成像位置和大小可调节的方法。先加载闪耀光栅到纯相位全息图,其次通过叠加会聚球面波相位,分离再现像与空间光调制器像素结构引起的多级衍射光的聚焦平面的位置,再利用光阑和高通滤波器的共同作用,消除高级衍射光、多级再现像以及零级光干扰对重构视觉效果的影响,最后引入成像透镜,调节再现像的成像位置与大小。建立了一套基于硅基液晶的全息显示系统用于实验验证。实验结果表明,最终的单一再现像清晰且可以方便地调节成像位置和大小。该方法同样适用于各种基于像素结构空间光调制器的全息光学系统。     

Image magnified lensless holographic projection by convergent spherical beam illumination

In liquid crystal spatial light modulator(SLM)-based holographic projection, the image is usually displayed at a distant projection screen through free space diffraction from a computer-generated hologram(CGH). Therefore,it allows for removing of the projection lens for the sake of system simplification and being aberration free, known as the "lensless holographic projection". However, the maximum size of the optical projected image is limited by the diffraction angle of the SLM. In this Letter, we present a method for the implementation of image magnification in a lensless holographic projection system by using convergent spherical wave illumination to the SLM.The complete complex amplitude of the image wavefront is reconstructed in a lensless optical filtering system from a phase-only CGH that is encoded by the off-axis double-phase method. The dimensions of the magnified image can break the limitation by the maximum diffraction angle of the SLM at a given projection distance.Optical experiment results with successful image magnification in the lensless holographic projection system are presented.     

Full-range, complex spatial light modulator for real-time holography

We demonstrate a full-range complex and transmissive spatial light modulator (SLM) for simultaneous and independent amplitude and phase modulation of an input wave field. Arbitrary scalar complex optical fields are generated by stacking a pixelated liquid crystal display operating in phase-only (2π) modulation with passive polarization-sensitive components. The principle is based on optical combining the light fields of two neighboring phase-only modulating pixels, which were made orthogonally polarized by a structured half-wave plate, then passing through a birefringent plate to laterally shift one of the beams collinear to the other, and finally bringing to interference by a linear polarizer. Complex modulation by the proposed SLM is experimentally verified in monochrome green operation.     

Diffractive characteristics of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator

The liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC SLM) is very suitable for wavefront correction and optical testing and can produce a wavefront with large phase change and high accuracy. The LC SLM is composed of thousands of pixels and the pixel size and shape have effects on the diffractive characteristics of the LC SLM. This paper investigates the pixel effect on the phase of the wavefront with the scalar diffractive theory. The results show that the maximum optical path difference modulation is 41\,$\mu$m to produce the paraboloid wavefront with the peak to valley accuracy better than $\la$/10. Effects of the mismatch between the pixel and the period, and black matrix on the diffraction efficiency of the LC SLM are also analysed with the Fresnel phase lens model. The ability of the LC SLM is discussed for optical testing and wavefront correction based on the calculated results. It shows that the LC SLM can be used as a wavefront corrector and a compensator.     

Spatial light modulators using ferroelectric liquid crystal

Basic structures and functions of optically addressed spatial light modulators (SLMs) are discussed in the context of system applications. The most important functions imposed on spatial light modulators are those of image acceptance and transducers. SLMs using ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) satisfy essential requirements for high levels of resolution, sensitivity and response speed. We specifically surveyed the current performance of bipolar-operational spatial light modulators (BSLMs) that sufficiently exploit the bistability of FLC to output reversibly positive and negative images and to store them. The high performance of BSLMs makes them useful for many optical applications including image processing and real-time holography.     

Pixel size and pitch measurements of liquid crystal spatial light modulator by optical diffraction

We present a simple technique for the determination of pixel size and pitch of liquid crystal (LC) based spatial light modulator (SLM). The proposed method is based on optical diffraction from pixelated LC panel that has been modeled as a two-dimensional array of rectangular apertures. A novel yet simple, two-plane measurement technique is implemented to circumvent the difficulty in absolute distance measurement. Experimental results are presented for electrically addressed twisted nematic LC-SLM removed from the display projector.     

Characterization of a high efficiency, ultrashort pulse shaper incorporating a reflective 4096-element spatial light modulator

We demonstrate pulse shaping via arbitrary phase modulation with a reflective, 1 × 4096 element, liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM). The unique construction of this device provides a very high efficiency when the device is used for phase modulation only in a prism based pulse shaper, namely 85%. We also present a single shot characterization of the SLM in the spatial domain and a single shot characterization of the pulse shaper in the spectral domain. These characterization methods provide a detailed picture of how the SLM modifies the spectral phase of an ultrashort pulse.     

基于全息成像技术构建任意的二维光晶格阵列

利用Gerchberg-Saxton算法生成任意的二维光晶格阵列的全息图,并且将全息图加载到液晶型空间光调制器上,然后将850 nm的激光照射到空间光调制器的液晶屏上,利用透镜的傅里叶变换特性,成功地显示或构建任意形状的二维光晶格阵列。将该系统应用到87Rb的冷原子实验中,成功俘获冷原子,这为接下来的单原子多量子位的量子模拟实验奠定了基础。