Improvements on the refresh rate and dynamical properties of a SLM by sequential readout using an acousto-optic modulator

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of an acousto-optic modulator to enhance the refresh rate and dynamic properties of a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (SLM). The useful area of the SLM surface is split in several zones which are addressed separately, and read in a sequence by a steered laser beam. This configuration allows to increase the refresh rate by five orders of magnitude. Furthermore, improvements on the nature of the transition between different holograms are experimentally shown. The advantages of this technique are discussed in the particular context of cold atom manipulation with holographic optical tweezers.