title: Sagnac-interferometer-based characterization of spatial light modulators.
abstract: A method for characterizing the phase response of spatial light modulators (SLMs) by using a Sagnac interferometer is proposed and demonstrated. The method represents an improvement over conventional diffraction-based or interferometric techniques by providing a simple and accurate phase measurement while taking advantage of the inherent phase stability of a Sagnac interferometer. As a demonstration, the phase response of a commercial liquid crystal on a silicon SLM is characterized and then linearized by using a programmable lookup table. The transverse phase profile over the SLM surface is also measured.
authors.affiliation: Jack Dodd Centre for Quantum Science, Physics Department, Otago University, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jian Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Warwick P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Bowen