We show how to encode the complex field of laser beams by using a single phase element. A common-path interferometer is employed to mix the phase information displayed into a phase-only spatial light modulator to finally retrieve the desired complex field pattern at the output of an optical imaging system.
Carbonell-Leal, M., Mendoza-Yero, O. Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator. J. Vis. Exp. (143), e59158, doi:10.3791/59158 (2019).