We propose a new method to determine the wavefront of a laser beam based on modal decomposition by computer-generated holograms. The hologram is encoded with a transmission function suitable for measuring the amplitudes and phases of the modes in real-time. This yields the complete information about the optical field, from which the Poynting vector and the wavefront are deduced. Two different wavefront reconstruction options are outlined: reconstruction from the phase for scalar beams, and reconstruction from the Poynting vector for inhomogeneously polarized beams. Results are compared to Shack-Hartmann measurements that serve as a reference and are shown to reproduce the wavefront and phase with very high fidelity.
Reference:
Schulze, C, Naidoo, D, Flamm, D, Schmidt, OA, Forbes, A and Duparr, M. 2012. Wavefront reconstruction by modal decomposition. Optics Express, vol. 20(18), pp 19714-19725
Schulze, C., Naidoo, D., Flamm, D., Schmidt, O., Forbes, A., & Duparr, M. (2012). Wavefront reconstruction by modal decomposition. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6113
Schulze, C, Darryl Naidoo, D Flamm, OA Schmidt, A Forbes, and M Duparr "Wavefront reconstruction by modal decomposition." (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6113
Schulze C, Naidoo D, Flamm D, Schmidt O, Forbes A, Duparr M. Wavefront reconstruction by modal decomposition. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6113.
Copyright: 2012 OSA. This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-20-18-19714. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
