Characterization and optimization of the liquid crystal on silicon displays for their application to diffractive optics

© Sociedad Española de Óptica. This manuscript presents a revision work related to the calibration, optimization and application of Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) displays. In particular, a thoroughly study of the LCoS displays for their application to diffractive optics is detailed. A new method of characterization and optimization of these devices is presented. This method is based on a combination of the Jones and Mueller mathematical formalisms, which is able to control and optimize the intensity and phase response of LCoS displays, even in presence of some depolarization content. Some experimental evidences of a physical phenomenon observed when working with LCoS displays are here also presented: the time-fluctuations of the phase phenomenon. Related to this effect, an analysis of the influence of the time-fluctuations of the phase in the performance of LCoS displays when addressing digital holograms is also presented, which has revealed that large amplitude fluctuations may significantly degrade their efficiency. Finally, a methodology for the phase encoding in LCoS displays is also proposed, which allows to minimize to certain extent the undesired influence of time-fluctuations of the phase.