Title of Presentation or Performance
Exploration of Devices for Tailoring Laser Light
Submission Type
Event
Faculty Advisor
Gabe Spalding
Expected Graduation Date
2022
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-13-2019 2:00 PM
End Date
4-13-2019 3:00 PM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
There are many reasons for wanting to exert adaptive control over lasers. Here, we describe our exploration of liquid-crystal on silicon “Spatial Light Modulators” (SLMs), which can be reconfigured to provide either amplitude or phase control over a laser beam (or, in principle, both). Computer control of these devices allows the creation of optical systems that replace conventional lenses and other, more exotic components, in an adaptable manner. We will describe our characterization and calibration tests for devices on hand in our labs, as well as our assessment of their potential for various applications, including the study of Laser Modes, encoding information into light beams, and utilization of the linear momentum, spin angular momentum, and orbital angular momentum of light beams, as well as the potential for application to studies of single-photon quantum mechanics.
Exploration of Devices for Tailoring Laser Light
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
There are many reasons for wanting to exert adaptive control over lasers. Here, we describe our exploration of liquid-crystal on silicon “Spatial Light Modulators” (SLMs), which can be reconfigured to provide either amplitude or phase control over a laser beam (or, in principle, both). Computer control of these devices allows the creation of optical systems that replace conventional lenses and other, more exotic components, in an adaptable manner. We will describe our characterization and calibration tests for devices on hand in our labs, as well as our assessment of their potential for various applications, including the study of Laser Modes, encoding information into light beams, and utilization of the linear momentum, spin angular momentum, and orbital angular momentum of light beams, as well as the potential for application to studies of single-photon quantum mechanics.