Device for separately modulating the wave fronts of two components of a light beam and microscope comprising the device

US9632297B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ABBERIOR INSTRUMENTS GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Matthias Reuss · Sundbyberg, SE
• Andreas Schoenle · Oettingen, DE
• Lars Kastrup · Göttingen, DE
• Gerald Donnert · Oettingen, DE
• Benjamin Harke · Oettingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 4, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2017
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2203/18
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

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.