Abstract

In combination with image-based recording and parallel readout, optical disks are promising spatial light modulator candidates for optical information processing and computing applications.^1,2 Highly parallel readout performance of such optical disk spatial light modulators can be achieved by utilizing a differential interferometric readout technique.¹ Gray scale capability can be incorporated into these optical disk spatial light modulators (ODSLMs) by binary area encoding at the expense of the pixel resolution. It has previously been shown experimentally¹ that gray level encoding on ODSLMs read out by the differential interferometric technique produces extremely linear transfer function characteristics with relatively high total throughput efficiencies. We discuss a computer simulation of the ODSLM that verifies the transfer function linearities and quantitatively explains the experimentally obtained throughput efficiencies. The simulation is based on scalar diffraction theory using an angular spectrum approach in combination with a full three-dimensional ray-trace description of the (optically birefringent) components in the ODSLM. The technological limitations of this spatial light modulator approach are discussed in terms of the obtainable pixel resolution for a given requirement of throughput efficiency and linearity. Comparisons with other direct imaging readout techniques, such as Schlieren imaging, are also given in terms of total throughput efficiency, linearity, and usable dynamic range.

© 1992 Optical Society of America