Self-induced nonlinear Zernike filter realized with optically addressed liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Abstract

Visualization of phase objects introducing small distortions to a plane wave front (such as turbulence of air) can be realized with the well-known Zernike filtering. In this work we discuss and present the use of an optically addressed liquid crystal spatial light modulator (OA LC SLM) performing self-induced nonlinear Zernike-type filtering. The OA LC SLM is made of a planar nematic liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a photoconductor (PVK:TNF 100-nm-thick polymer) and a polyimide orienting layer. The advantage of such a nonlinear Zernike filter over a conventional one is that no precise optical adjustment is necessary and the filtering is relatively easy to control by tuning the externally applied field to the modulator and the incoming light intensity.