Generation of doughnut laser beams by use of a liquid-crystal cell with a conversion efficiency near 100%.

We present a novel technique for producing a doughnut laser beam by use of a liquid-crystal cell. It is demonstrated that the liquid-crystal cell exhibits an efficiency in energy conversion near 100%. One of the main advantages of this method is its capability of dynamic switching between a Gaussian mode and a doughnut mode of different topological charges.

3D integral imaging using diffractive Fresnel lens arrays.

We present experimental results with binary amplitude Fresnel lens arrays and binary phase Fresnel lens arrays used to implement integral imaging systems. Their optical performance is compared with high quality refractive microlens arrays and pinhole arrays in terms of image quality, color distortion and contrast. Additionally, we show the first experimental results of lens arrays with different focal lengths in integral imaging, and discuss their ability to simultaneously increase both the depth of focus and the field of view.

Effective spherical aberration compensation by use of a nematic liquid-crystal device.

The next generation of optical data storage system beyond DVDs will use blue laser light and an objective lens with a high numerical aperture of 0.85 to increase storage capacity. Such high numerical aperture systems have an inherent higher sensitivity to aberrations.