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Dynamical spatial light modulation in the ultraviolet spectral range

Maximilian Ammenwerth1,2,*, Hendrik Timme1,2,*, Veronica Giardini3,4, Renhao Tao1,2,5, Flavien Gyger1,2, Ohad Lib1,2, Dirk Berndt6, Dimitrios Kourkoulos6, Tim Rom7 et al.

Immanuel Bloch1,2,5 and Johannes Zeiher1,2,5,†

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: johannes.zeiher@mpq.mpg.de
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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 034031 – Published 11 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ltnk-w67h

Abstract

Spatial light modulators enable arbitrary control of the intensity of optical light fields and facilitate a variety of applications in biology, astronomy, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. For coherent light fields, holography, implemented through arbitrary phase modulation, represents a highly power-efficient technique to shape the intensity of light patterns. Here, we introduce and benchmark a spatial light modulator based on a piston micromirror array. In particular, we utilize the reflection-based device to demonstrate arbitrary beam shaping in the ultraviolet (UV) regime at a wavelength of 322 nm. We correct aberrations of the reflected wave front and show that the modulator does not add detectable excess phase noise to the reflected light field. We utilize the intrinsically low latency of the architecture to demonstrate fast switching of arbitrary light patterns synchronized with short laser pulses at an update rate of 1 kHz. Finally, we outline how the modulator can act as an important component of a zone-based architecture for a neutral-atom quantum computer or simulator, including UV wavelengths.

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synopsis

Extending Spatial Light Modulation into the Ultraviolet

Published 11 September, 2025

An array of tiny spring-loaded mirrors creates intricate patterns of UV light for trapping and manipulating cold atoms.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 034031– Published 11 September, 2025
  • Received 13 April 2025
  • Revised 26 June 2025
  • Accepted 1 July 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by Max Planck Society.

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