DEVICE FOR SEPARATELY MODULATING THE WAVE FRONTS OF TWO COMPONENTS OF A LIGHT BEAM AND MICROSCOPE COMPRISING THE DEVICE

摘要

A device comprises two polarization-selective optical elements for separately modulating wave fronts of two components of a collimated light beam, which are transversally polarized in orthogonal directions. The two polarization-selective optical elements are first and second partial areas of one spatial light modulator (SLM) diffracting the light beam in backward direction. A mirror arranged between the first and second partial areas of the SLM reflects the light beam coming from the first partial area towards the second partial area. A wave plate arranged between the first partial area and the second partial area of the SLM rotates the polarization directions of both components of the light beam by 90°. The mirror reflects the first and second components of the light beam as parallel bundles of light rays resulting in a lateral offset between the first and second components of the light beam behind the second partial area of the SLM.

主权项

1. A device for separately modulating wave fronts of a first component and a second component of a collimated light beam, the first component and the second component being transversally polarized in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, respectively, the device comprising:
a first polarization-selective optical element configured to selectively modulate the wave fronts of the first component; and a second polarization-selective optical element configured to selectively modulate the wave fronts of the second component, the second polarization-selective optical element being arranged behind the first polarization-selective optical element in a beam path of the collimated light beam;
wherein the first and second polarization-selective optical elements are first and second partial areas of one spatial light modulator, the first and second partial areas both diffracting the light beam in backward direction; at least one mirror arranged in the beam path of the light beam between the first and the second partial areas of the spatial light modulator to reflect the light beam coming from the first partial area towards the second partial area; and a wave plate configured and arranged in the beam path of the light beam between the first partial area and the second partial area of the spatial light modulator to rotate the polarization directions of both components of the light beam by 90°; wherein the at least one mirror is configured and arranged to both reflect the first component and the second component of the light beam as parallel bundles of light rays resulting in a lateral offset between the first component and the second component of the light beam in the beam path of the light beam behind the second partial area of the spatial light modulator.