High-Flexibility Control of Structured Light with Combined Adaptive Optical Systems

Combining the specific advantages of high-resolution liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulators (LCoS-SLMs) and reflective or refractive micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) presents new prospects for the generation of structured light fields. In particular, adaptive self-apodization sche...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ruediger Grunwald, Mathias Jurke, Martin Bock, Max Liebmann, Binal Poyyathuruthy Bruno, Hitesh Gowda, Ulrike Wallrabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/9/1/42
Description
Summary:Combining the specific advantages of high-resolution liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulators (LCoS-SLMs) and reflective or refractive micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) presents new prospects for the generation of structured light fields. In particular, adaptive self-apodization schemes can significantly reduce diffraction by low-loss spatial filtering. The concept enables one to realize low-dispersion shaping of nondiffracting femtosecond wavepackets and to temporally switch, modulate or deflect spatially structured beams. Adaptive diffraction management by structured illumination is demonstrated for piezo-based and thermally actuated axicons, spiral phase plates (SPPs) and Fresnel bi-mirrors. Improved non-collinear autocorrelation with angular-tunable Fresnel-bi-mirrors via self-apodized illumination and phase contrast of an SLM is proposed. An extension of the recently introduced nondiffractive Talbot effect to a tunable configuration by combining an SLM and a fluid lens is reported. Experimental results for hexagonal as well as orthogonal array beams are presented.
ISSN:2304-6732