Practical issues for the use of liquid crystal spatial light modulators in adaptive optics

Low cost, accurate, high resolution spatial light modulators are of increasing interest for adaptive optics applications. Most adaptive optics systems currently use expensive segmented or deformable mirrors. Nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulators have been suggested as possible substitutes for these mirrors as the phase modulating arrays in adaptive optics systems. This paper discusses broad wavelength band, and polarisation insensitive operation of two different liquid crystal spatial light modulators currently available and under investigation as possible phase modulating arrays for adaptive optics systems. The results of our investigations give a good indication of how the devices will operate in practical adaptive optics systems. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.