Phase-only spatial light modulators are now ubiquitous tools in modern optics laboratories, and are often used to generate so-called structured light. In this work we outline the use of a phase-only spatial light modulator to achieve full complex amplitude modulation of the light, i.e., in amplitude and phase. We outline the theoretical concept, and then illustrate its use with the example of the laser beam shaping of Gaussian beams into flat-top beams. We quantify the performance of this approach for the creation of such fields, and compare the results to conventional lossless approaches to flat-top beam generation.
Reference:
Hendriks, A, Naidoo, D, Roux, FS, López-Mariscal, C and Forbes, A. The generation of flat-top beams by complex amplitude modulation with a phase-only spatial light modulator. Proc. SPIE 8490, Laser Beam Shaping XIII, 849006 (October 15, 2012); doi:10.1117/12.932224
Hendriks, A., Naidoo, D., Roux, F., Löpez-Mariscal, C., & Forbes, A. (2012). The generation of flat-top beams by complex amplitude modulation with a phase-only spatial light modulator. SPIE. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6219
Hendriks, A, Darryl Naidoo, FS Roux, C Löpez-Mariscal, and A Forbes. "The generation of flat-top beams by complex amplitude modulation with a phase-only spatial light modulator." (2012): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6219
Hendriks A, Naidoo D, Roux F, Löpez-Mariscal C, Forbes A, The generation of flat-top beams by complex amplitude modulation with a phase-only spatial light modulator; SPIE; 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6219 .
Copyright: 2012 SPIE. Hendriks, A, Naidoo, D, Roux, FS, López-Mariscal, C and Forbes, A. The generation of flat-top beams by complex amplitude modulation with a phase-only spatial light modulator. Proc. SPIE 8490, Laser Beam Shaping XIII, 849006 (October 15, 2012). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. ; doi:10.1117/12.932224.