Efficient multibeam large-angle nonmechanical laser beam steering from computer-generated holograms rendered on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Multibeam large-angle beam steering is demonstrated in the visible spectral region by imprinting computer-generated holographic Fresnel zone plates on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) configured as the first element of a telescope. The position and intensity of each beam are controlled independently. The laser beam is steered over a ±37° field of regard, with the power in the beam at 37° being greater than 50% of the on-axis power. The power delivered on axis for a single beam was 48% of the power incident on the SLM. The beam profile remained Gaussian over the full steering range, and the on-axis beam divergence is 2.1 mrad.