Model-based compensation of pixel crosstalk in liquid crystal spatial light modulators

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) based on liquid crystals are widely used for wavefront shaping. Their large number of pixels allows one to create complex wavefronts. The crosstalk between neighboring pixels, also known as fringing field effect, however, can lead to strong deviations. The realized wavefront may deviate significantly from the prediction based on the idealized assumption that the response across a pixel is uniform and independent of its neighbors. Detailed numerical simulations of the SLM response based on a full 3D physical model accurately match the measured response and properly model the pixel crosstalk. The full model is then used to validate a simplified model that enables much faster crosstalk evaluation and pattern optimization beyond standard performance. General conclusions on how to minimize crosstalk in liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) SLM systems are derived, as well as a readily accessible estimation of the amount of fringing in a given SLM.