Abstract

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) play a key role for the development of programmable optical systems in information processing [3]. Electrically addressable SLMs are of special interest since they can be used to implement computer-generated transmission functions. Such a function is typically represented in a computer by a two-dimensional discrete data structure and can be dynamically mapped onto the pixelated micro-structures of the SLM. This mapping can be interpreted as a computer memory access where a section of the computer memory is copied to the SLM in order to modulate an illumination wave. Consequently, the SLM is an optical storage with an electrical write-in and an optical read-out mechanism. In an optical system the read-out of an SLM is performed in parallel and can be used to realize specified functions. The function of an optical system can be defined either by its system function or its input/output-behavior. Evidently, the capability of an SLM to realize optical functions depends on its storage characteristics [4, 5, 6].

© 1997 Optical Society of America