Systems and methods for shaping wavefronts in polychromatic light using phase shifting elements

摘要

A system for producing polychromatic light having selectively shaped wavefronts includes a source for generating light beams of at least two wavelengths (lambda₁, lambda₂). The beams are made up of a plurality of contiguous sub-beams that establish lambda₁ and lambda₂ wavefronts. From the source, the light is directed toward an optical phase shifting device which can include one or more arrays, with each array having a plurality of elements. Functionally, within a particular array, each element is independently adjustable to selectively alter the optical pathlength of a corresponding sub-beam. For light having two wavelengths (lambda₁, lambda₂), a first array configuration is used to reshape the lambda₁ wavelength light and a second array configuration is used to reshape the lambda₂ wavelength light. After wavefront reshaping, the lambda₁ and lambda₂ wavelength light is directed onto a common beam path where it can be viewed, imaged or further processed.