Optically addressed liquid crystal light valves for adaptive control of amplitude and phase of laser beam

Brigitte Loiseaux; Jean-Pierre Huignard; Jean-Christophe Chanteloup; Arnold Migus; Gerard A. Mourou

doi:10.1117/12.304544

1 April 1998 Optically addressed liquid crystal light valves for adaptive control of amplitude and phase of laser beam

Brigitte Loiseaux, Jean-Pierre Huignard, Jean-Christophe Chanteloup, Arnold Migus, Gerard A. Mourou

Proceedings Volume 3297, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications VI; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.304544
Event: Photonics West '98 Electronic Imaging, 1998, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Space aberration effects which arise in high energy or in high average power laser chains are important parameters to control in order to emit a beam quality close to the diffraction limit. For that purpose we present recent experiments using an original adaptive and programmable module allowing the spatial control of the beam amplitude and the correction of the phase distortions due to the optical components and the gain media of the laser chain. Beam shaping is achieved by an optically addressed photoconductor-liquid crystal light valve. The light valve is addressed in the blue-green spectral range by incoherent projection of a VGA liquid crystal display. This adaptive optics module controls either the amplitude or the phase of near infrared laser beams depending on the liquid crystal operating mode. The other specific characteristics of the module will be detailed: no spurious diffraction effects, up to 10(pi) phase excursion and tri-lateral wavefront sensor. Experimental results of compensation of aberrations introduced on different laser beams will also be presented.

Citation Download Citation

Brigitte Loiseaux, Jean-Pierre Huignard, Jean-Christophe Chanteloup, Arnold Migus, and Gerard A. Mourou "Optically addressed liquid crystal light valves for adaptive control of amplitude and phase of laser beam", Proc. SPIE 3297, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications VI, (1 April 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.304544

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available