Abstract

Two-dimensional spatial light modulators are critical components in coherent optical data and image processing systems. A laboratory characterization system has been developed and used to examine a magnetooptic SLM. The system relies on a minicomputer interface providing individual SLM pixel control, an optical multichannel analyzer, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to characterize polarization rotation, contrast ratio, amplitude transmittance, phase stability, and switching effects associated with neighboring pixels. The results have shown the magnitude of the polarization rotation and the achievable contrast ratio are dependent on the size of the illumination area. Three distinct polarization rotations and contrast ratios, within a pixel, within the frame, and full frame, were found to be needed to characterize the device. Within a pixel illumination provided the largest polarization rotation and highest contrast ratio. Analysis has shown that device performance can be described by a model based on the coherent addition of polarization rotated and unrotated transmitted light. The amplitude and phase properties of the light transmitted by the device proved to be very stable in a variety of operating conditions.

© 1989 Optical Society of America