Benchmarking modern algorithms to holographically create optical tweezers for laser-cooled atoms

Journal article

We discuss and compare three methods to generate holograms for optical tweezers: simple rounding, Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion dithering, and mixed region amplitude freedom (MRAF). These schemes are optimised for producing large arrays of tightly focused luminous spots. The algorithms are compared in terms of their speed, efficiency, and accuracy, for periodic arrangements of traps; an arrangement of particular interest for the trapping and manipulation of single laser-cooled atoms in the field of quantum computing. We simulate the image formation using each of a binary amplitude modulating digital mirror device (DMD) and a phase modulating spatial light modulator (PSLM) as the display element. While a DMD allows for fast frame rates, the slower PSLM is more efficient and provides higher accuracy with a quasi-continuous variation of phase. We discuss the relative merits of each algorithm for use with both a DMD and a PSLM, allowing one to choose the ideal approach depending on the circumstances.

Authors: Holland, N; Stuart, D; Barter, O; Kuhn, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Journal: Journal of Modern Optics
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 18
• Pages: 2133-2141
• Publication date: 2018-07-20
• Acceptance date: 2018-06-09
• DOI: 10.1080/09500340.2018.1499978
• EISSN: 1362-3044
• ISSN: 0950-0340
• Keywords: ultracold atoms; dipole-force trapping; holographic imaging; optical tweezers; spatial light modulators; computer generated holograms