Experimental evaluation of Fourier transform holograms by a self-interferometric technique

Abstract

We present a technique that combines an encoding method to display complex-valued holograms onto a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) with a phase-shifting interferometric (PSI) technique for experimentally evaluating the generated complex-valued optical fields. We demonstrate an efficient common-path polarization interferometer based on the SLM itself, not requiring any external additional element. The same setup can be used to simultaneously display the complex hologram and to apply the phase-shifting values required to retrieve the phase distribution of the optical field. A simple rotation of a polarizer allows to change from the intensity configuration to the interferometer configuration.