The LCD beam shaper (above) was constructed, tested and calibrated by Dillon Roach and Andrew York. By modulating the phase of a laser beam in the near field, the amplitude distribution in the far field can be controlled. This technique can serve to improve the focal spot quality of a beam or can be used to modify the spot when a non-Gaussian beam is desired. The inset pictures show the unaltered beam (left) and a highly modified beam focusing to two spots (right).

A spatial light modulator (SLM) from Boulder Nonlinear Systems (above) is used to modify the focal pattern of a laser spot. Ryan Ford's LabView VI uses a genetic algorithm to modify the laser beam (below).

Stay tuned for Kelly Kluttz's studies on the effects of spatial modulation on nonlinear optical phenomena (e.g., second harmonic generation, shown below).