Opto-mechanical system to remove zeroth order diffraction in phase-only spatial light modulator

1. An optical image generation system comprising:

a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to receive an input collimated laser beam and phase-modulate the wavefront of the laser beam;

one or more optical elements configured to project the modulated laser beam onto a focal plane;

a first mirror and a second mirror situated at the focal plane, an edge of the first mirror being adjacent to an edge of the second mirror, the first mirror being configured to reflect a first portion of the modulated laser beam in a first direction, and the second mirror being configured to reflect a second portion of the modulated laser beam in a second direction; and

a tube lens and an objective lens configured to project the first and second portions into a combined image;

wherein the center of the focal plane falls in a gap between the edge of the first mirror and the edge of the second mirror, such that the zeroth order diffraction of the laser beam by the SLM is removed;

wherein a computer-generated hologram (CGH) is applied to the SLM to form an optical phase mask; and

wherein the CGH is pre-compensated for shifts of image due to the first and second mirrors, wherein the pre-compensating comprises applying respective first and second affine transforms to the first and second portions, the first and second affine transforms being based on a width of the image and a width of the block or gap.

2. The optical image generation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second directions is adjustable.

3. The optical image generation system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mirrors are mounted on a flexure mount such that an angle between the first and second mirrors is adjustable.

4. The optical image generation system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mirrors are configured as dual D shaped mirrors.

5. An optical image generation system comprising:

a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to receive an input collimated laser beam and phase-modulate the wavefront of the laser beam;

one or more optical elements configured to project the modulated laser beam onto a focal plane;

a zeroth order block situated at the focal plane;

a first mirror and a second mirror situated behind the zeroth order block, an edge of the first mirror being adjacent to an edge of the second mirror, the first mirror being configured to reflect a first portion of the modulated laser beam in a first direction, and the second mirror being configured to reflect a second portion of the modulated laser beam in a second direction; and

a tube lens and an objective lens configured to project the first and second portions into a combined image;

wherein the zeroth order block comprises an opaque stripe located at the center of the focal plane and the length of stripe is parallel to the edges of the first and second mirrors, such that the zeroth order diffraction of the laser beam by the SLM is blocked;

wherein a computer-generated hologram (CGH) is applied to the SLM to form an optical phase mask; and

wherein the CGH is pre-compensated for shifts of image due to the first and second mirrors, wherein the pre-compensating comprises applying respective first and second affine transforms to the first and second portions, the first and second affine transforms being based on a width of the image and a width of the block or gap.

6. The optical image generation system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second directions is adjustable.

7. The optical image generation system of claim 5 , wherein the first and second mirrors are mounted on a flexure mount such that an angle between the first and second mirrors is adjustable.

8. The optical image generation system of claim 5 , wherein the first and second mirrors are configured as dual D shaped mirrors.

9. A method of generating an optical image comprising:

receiving an input collimated laser beam and phase-modulating the wavefront of the laser beam by a spatial light modulator (SLM);

projecting the modulated laser beam onto a focal plane by one or more optical elements;

reflecting a first portion of the modulated laser beam in a first direction by a first mirror, and reflecting a second portion of the modulated laser beam in a second direction by a second mirror, the first mirror and second mirror being situated at the focal plane, an edge of the first mirror being adjacent to an edge of the second mirror; and

projecting the first and second portions by a tube lens and an objective lens to form a combined image;

wherein the center of the focal plane falls in a gap between the edge of the first mirror and the edge of the second mirror, such that the zeroth order diffraction of the laser beam by the SLM is removed;

wherein a computer-generated hologram (CGH) is applied to the SLM to form an optical phase mask; and

wherein the CGH is pre-compensated for shifts of image due to the first and second mirrors, wherein the pre-compensating comprises applying respective first and second affine transforms to the first and second portions, the first and second affine transforms being based on a width of the image and a width of the block or gap.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second directions.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second mirrors are mounted on a flexure mount, and the method further comprises adjusting an angle between the first and second mirrors.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second mirrors are configured as dual D shaped mirrors.

13. A method of generating an optical image comprising:

receiving an input collimated laser beam and phase-modulating the wavefront of the laser beam by a spatial light modulator (SLM);

projecting the modulated laser beam onto a focal plane by one or more optical elements;

situating a zeroth order block at the focal plane;

reflecting a first portion of the modulated laser beam in a first direction by a first mirror, and reflecting a second portion of the modulated laser beam in a second direction by a second mirror, the first mirror and second mirror being situated behind the zeroth order block, an edge of the first mirror being adjacent to an edge of the second mirrors; and

projecting the first and second portions by a tube lens and an objective lens to form a combined image;

wherein the zeroth order block comprises an opaque stripe located at the center of the focal plane and the length of stripe being parallel to the edges of the first and second mirrors, such that the zeroth order diffraction of the laser beam by the SLM is blocked;

wherein a computer-generated hologram (CGH) is applied to the SLM to form an optical phase mask; and

wherein the CGH is pre-compensated for shifts of image due to the first and second mirrors, wherein the pre-compensating comprises applying respective first and second affine transforms to the first and second portions, the first and second affine transforms being based on a width of the image and a width of the block or gap.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second directions.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second mirrors are mounted on a flexure mount, and the method further comprises adjusting an angle between the first and second mirrors.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second mirrors are configured as dual D shaped mirrors.