Abstract: A light modulator is described which generates an output optical field from an input optical field. The light modulator features first and second polarization-rotating elements which are directly attached to one another. Each element contains an array of pixels including liquid crystals aligned along a specific axis. During operation, the pixels are biased to rotate the liquid crystals. For a particular polarization, the phase and amplitude profiles of the input optical field passing through the pixel array can be arbitrarily and independently controlled across an aperture of the light modulator.

Abstract: A method and device for shaping both the temporal and spatial profiles of an input optical pulse to generate an output optical waveform are described. The method includes the step of dispersing the spectral frequencies of the input pulse. These frequencies are then focused with a cylindrical lens to form a two-dimensional optical field. The field is imaged on a mask featuring a two-dimensional array of pixels. The amplitudes, phases, or phases and amplitudes of the two-dimensional optical field are then filtered with the mask. The filtered spectral frequencies are then recombined to form the collective temporal profile of the output waveform. The two-dimensional optical field is then imaged in a sample plane to form the spatially coherent regions.