Abstract

We present a method for arbitrary control of the polarization of a light beam. Our method uses two holograms on a binary ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator (FLCSLM), and so has the potential to allow polarization state switching at kilohertz rates. Unlike previous methods that achieve polarization control using FLCSLMs, our method is common path and requires only the simplest optical components. For this reason, the method is very easy to setup, align, and maintain. In addition, it has the ability to modulate unpolarized input light. We demonstrate the formation of radially, azimuthally, and circularly polarized beams by imaging their focal spots formed at low numerical aperture.

© 2013 Optical Society of America

Generation of arbitrary vector beams with a spatial light modulator and a common path interferometric arrangement

Xi-Lin Wang, Jianping Ding, Wei-Jiang Ni, Cheng-Shan Guo, and Hui-Tian Wang
Opt. Lett. 32(24) 3549-3551 (2007)

Complete polarization control of light from a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Ignacio Moreno, Jeffrey A. Davis, Travis M Hernandez, Don M. Cottrell, and David Sand
Opt. Express 20(1) 364-376 (2012)

Programmable multiple-level phase modulation that uses ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulators

S. E. Broomfield, M. A. A. Neil, and E. G. S. Paige
Appl. Opt. 34(29) 6652-6665 (1995)

Bistable spatial light modulator using a ferroelectric liquid crystal

Seiji Fukushima, Takashi Kurokawa, Shinji Matsuo, and Haruki Kozawaguchi
Opt. Lett. 15(5) 285-287 (1990)

Efficient dynamic control method of light polarization using single phase-only liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulators for optical data storage

Jintao Hong, Jin Li, and Daping Chu
Appl. Opt. 61(5) B34-B42 (2022)