Two-dimensional polarization encoding with a phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulator

We show how to two dimensionally encode the polarization state of an incide nt light beam using a parallel-aligned liquid-crystal spatial light modulat or (LCSLM). Each pixel of the LCSLM acts as a voltage-controlled wave plate and can be programmed over a 2 pi phase range at a wavelength of 514.5 nm. Techniques are reviewed for either rotating the major axis of elliptically polarized Light or for converting an input Linearly polarized beam into an arbitrary elliptically polarized beam. Experimental results are demonstrat ed in which we generate various two-dimensional spatial patterns of polariz ed light. Several potential applications are suggested. We also report an u nexpected edge-enhancement effect that might be useful in image processing applications. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.