Shaping Laser Beams Using Computer Generated Holograms

Lasers have become an important tool in many industries that rely on their high level of precision and control. Photons of light have both wave-like and particle-like properties. Due to their wave-nature it, much like water waves, they are difficult to control and it is prone to spread and disfiguring in hard-to-predict ways. Therefore, a lot of research efforts are spent trying to be able to control the shape of a laser. A Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) is an expensive device that allow us to gain a high level of control in the shape of a light wave using computer-generated-holograms (CGH). In our exhibit we plan to display images shaped using a laser beam. Visitors can enjoy learning about the wave-nature of light with the added benefit of seeing images generated using CGHs displayed on the SLM. If interested, visitors' portraits can be taken and shaped using the SLM to be projected as laser beam intensity. An imaging setup will be present such that these intensities can be captured and provided to the visitors.