Enumeration of illumination and scanning modes from real-time spatial light modulators

Using a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) in a Fourier transform set up together with fast diffractive optics design algorithms provides a way t o automatically generate complex and rapidly changing laser illumination pa tterns in the far-field. We propose a hierarchical software structure for t he adaptive, on-line design of far-field illumination patterns. Using the o n-line design system together with camera feedback of the illuminated scene would make it possible to detect and actively laser designate multiple obj ects in parallel. Possibilities for multispot, arbitrary trajectory scannin g and also broad-area speckle-reduced illumination are demonstrated with ex perimentally measured diffraction pattern sequences from a 120 x 128 pixel phase-only SLM. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.