Abstract

In this paper we propose a programmable wavefront generation system using two binary phase spatial light modulators (BPSLMs). The output of the binary phase hologram has inversion symmetry and is restricted to be space–invariant, if the output of the hologram is viewed in the Fourier plane of a lens. Inversion symmetry may be broken by introducing a fixed binary phase hologram [1,2] but in this case diffraction efficiency η_d is not increased. Alternatively, an asymmetric output may be generated by increasing the number of phase levels [3]. Results obtained in this way increase η_d but the output remains space–invariant.

© 1996 Optical Society of America