Abstract

Each pixel of a spatial light modulator (SLM) consists of a phase- or amplitude-modulating area (the active zone) within an inactive area (the dead zone). Here we study optical correlators that contain input and filter SLM’s whose dead zones are opaque. Computer simulations and analytical calculations are carried out for these correlators when a phase-only, a binary phase-only, or a classical matched filter is written on the filter SLM. The correlation signal-to-noise ratio for a particular filter is independent of a dead zone since its energy throughput is proportional to its peak correlation intensity.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

General treatment of spatial light modulator dead-zone effects on optical correlation. I. Computer simulations

P. D. Gianino and C. L. Woods
Appl. Opt. 32(32) 6527-6535 (1993)

General treatment of spatial light modulator dead-zone effects on optical correlation. II. Mathematical analysis

P. D. Gianino and C. L. Woods
Appl. Opt. 32(32) 6536-6541 (1993)

Analysis of spatial light modulator contrast ratios and optical correlation

Peter D. Gianino, Charles L. Woods, and Joseph L. Horner
Appl. Opt. 34(29) 6682-6694 (1995)

Effects of dead zones in multiple-quantum-well binary-phase modulators on optical interconnections

Hanni Inbar and Mohammad R. Taghizadeh
Appl. Opt. 37(5) 912-920 (1998)

Effects and correction of magneto-optic spatial light modulator phase errors in an optical correlator

John D. Downie, Butler P. Hine, and Max B. Reid
Appl. Opt. 31(5) 636-643 (1992)