Digital speckle shearing interferometer using a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator

Author(s): Shuai Zhao and Po Sheun Chung

Abstract:

“A digital speckle shearing interferometer is developed using a dynamic binary phase grating realized by an electrically addressed, twisted nematic liquid-crystal spatial light modulator as the shearing element. The standard phase-shifting algorithm can be easily achieved by changing the grating pattern displayed on the spatial light modulator. The method has a number of advantages including variable sensitivity, no moving part, and no requirement for calibration of the value of the phase shift. The error due to the unexpected diffraction order is also discussed. ”

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Publication: SPIE – Optical Engineering
Issue/Year: SPIE – Optical Engineering, Vol. 45, 105606 (2006);
DOI: 10.1117/1.2360940

Reverse orbiting of microparticles in optical vortices

Author(s): A. Jesacher, S. Fürhapter, C. Maurer, S. Bernet, and M. Ritsch-Marte

Abstract:

“We report the observation of particles trapped at an air-water surface orbiting in a reverse direction with respect to the orbital angular momentum of the light field. The effect is explained by a combination of asymmetric particle shape and confinement of the particle on the 2D air-water interface. The experiment highlights the strong influence of the particle shape on the momentum transfer, an effect that is often not considered in optical trapping experiments.”

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Publication: Optics Letters
Issue/Year: Optics Letters, Vol. 31, Issue 19, pp. 2824-2826
DOI: 10.1364/OL.31.002824

Diffraction-based determination of the phase modulation for general spatial light modulators

Author(s): David Engström, Gabriel Milewski, Jörgen Bengtsson, and Sheila Galt

Abstract:

“We describe a characterization method based on diffraction for obtaining the phase response of spatial light modulators (SLMs), which in general exhibit both amplitude and phase modulation. Compared with the conventional interferometer-based approach, the method is characterized by a simple setup that enables in situ measurements, allows for substantial mechanical vibration, and permits the use of a light source with a fairly low temporal coherence. The phase determination is possible even for a SLM with a full amplitude modulation depth, i.e., even if there are nulls in the amplitude transmission characteristic of the SLM. The method successfully determines phase modulation values in the full 2π rad range with high accuracy. The experimental work includes comparisons with interferometer measurements as well as a SLM characterization with a light-emitting diode (LED).”

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Publication: Applied Optics
Issue/Year: Applied Optics, Vol. 45, Issue 28, pp. 7195-7204 (2006)
DOI: 10.1364/AO.45.007195