Schulze, CFlamm, DDuparré, MForbes, A2013-11-212013-11-212012-11Schulze, C, Flamm, D, Duparré, M and Forbes, A. 2012. Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator. Optics Letters, vol. 37(22), pp 4687-46890146-9592http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-37-22-4687http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7085Copyright: 2013 Optical Society of America. This is an Open Access journal. The journal authorizes the publication of the information herewith contained. Published in Optics Letters, vol. 37(22), pp 4687-4689We present a fast and easy technique for measuring the beam propagation ratio, M2, of laser beams using a spatial light modulator. Our technique is based on digitally simulating the free-space propagation of light, thus eliminating the need for the traditional scan in the propagation direction. We illustrate two approaches to achieving this, neither of which requires any information of the laser beam under investigation nor necessitates any moving optical components. The comparison with theoretical predictions reveals excellent agreement and proves the accuracy of the technique.enLaser beamsMathematical opticsBeam propagation ratioSpatial light modulatorArticleSchulze, C., Flamm, D., Duparré, M., & Forbes, A. (2012). Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7085Schulze, C, D Flamm, M Duparré, and A Forbes "Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator." (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7085Schulze C, Flamm D, Duparré M, Forbes A. Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7085.TY - Article AU - Schulze, C AU - Flamm, D AU - Duparré, M AU - Forbes, A AB - We present a fast and easy technique for measuring the beam propagation ratio, M2, of laser beams using a spatial light modulator. Our technique is based on digitally simulating the free-space propagation of light, thus eliminating the need for the traditional scan in the propagation direction. We illustrate two approaches to achieving this, neither of which requires any information of the laser beam under investigation nor necessitates any moving optical components. The comparison with theoretical predictions reveals excellent agreement and proves the accuracy of the technique. DA - 2012-11 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Laser beams KW - Mathematical optics KW - Beam propagation ratio KW - Spatial light modulator LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2012 SM - 0146-9592 T1 - Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator TI - Beam-quality measurements using a spatial light modulator UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7085 ER -