Collective matrix of spatial light modulators for increased resolution in holographic image projection

Opt Express. 2018 Jun 25;26(13):17158-17169. doi: 10.1364/OE.26.017158.

Abstract

We present a method to increase the resolution of holographically projected images by the use of a collective matrix of two phase-only spatial light modulators. As a result of fine alignment and common coherent illumination of the modulators, a synthetic aperture is formed with a doubled number of active pixels. In this paper we present theoretical analysis and numerical simulations which stand in good agreement for different distances between the apertures of modulators. We have achieved experimentally controlled field interference from both modulators on the projection screen, exhibiting increased resolution in one spatial direction and residual effects of the dead space between modulators. Then we have proved numerically possibility to extend our approach on bigger synthetic apertures consisted of more than two modulators.