Beam and Pulse Shaping

Light manipulation for the chemical and biological sciences

In the mid-1990’s Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) began delivering liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulators (SLMs) to researchers investigating “optical tweezers”. Optical tweezers are a technique in which cells or microscopic dielectric spheres are trapped by the force of a high intensity laser beam, which can then be used to move or manipulate the matter. This requires liquid crystal SLMs, capable of producing pure phase modulation. Because the SLM is basically a programmable hologram, it can produce multiple optical traps, or can be used to shape optical beams (eg. Bessel beams). A successful optical tweezer system relies, not only on a precision SLM, but also on the ability of the drive electronics to deliver a series of traps in sequence. BNS’s current research centers on improvement of the power handling capability and speed of our SLMs, as well as upgrades to our electronics and software.

Ultra-fast optical systems have emerged as an important tool in chemical and biological research, requiring novel spatial light modulators. By precisely controlling the temporal shape of pulsed laser beams, researchers can characterize events in material formation on a tiny time scale. Ultrafast pulse shapers can also be used to produce high energy densities.