Robust propagation of a steady optical beam through turbulence with extended depth of focus based on spatial light modulator

Abstract

Finding appropriate strategies to increase the robustness to turbulence with extended depth of focus (DOF) is the common requirement in developing high-resolution imaging through air or water medium. However, the conventional lens with a specially designed structure requires high manufacturing costs and is limited by the lack of dynamic modulation characteristics. Spatial light modulator (SLM), the unique flat-panel optical device, can break through the distance limitation of beam propagation for the dynamic modulation property. In this work, we address the dynamic generation of the steady optical beam (STOB) based on the mechanism of transverse wave vector elimination. STOB generated by the SLM has significant advantages over Gaussian beams for the characteristics of peak intensity, robust propagation, extended-DOF beam profile, and dynamic wavefront modulation over a long distance under strong turbulent media. Our versatile, extensible, and flexible method has promising application scenarios for the realization of turbulence-resistant circumstances.

A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications

“…Vortex beams carry orbital angular momentum (OAM) by virtue of a helical twist to the wavefront, characterized by a phase function of the form of , resulting in photons with of OAM 51 . We have already seen that Bessel beams and Laguerre-Gauss beams have this form, but these are only two such examples.…”

Steady optical beam in turbulence

“…In this work, we propose the dynamic generation of STOB through the superimposition of multiple ring structure beams, leveraging the concept of transverse wave vector elimination. 23 The creation of these ring structure beams involves dividing the wavefront of an input Gaussian beam into a series of concentric ring structure beams. Each of these concentric ring beams focuses at a different position along the optical axis.…”