Recent advances in spatial light modulator-based three-dimensional optical imaging (invited)

Abstract Phase-only spatial light modulators (SLMs) are employed in optical systems for various applications. In this article, the main landmarks of SLM-based imaging systems are surveyed. In addition to conventional two-dimensional imaging, these systems are useful for multidimensional imaging, axial sectioning, field-of-view expansion, improved image resolution, imaging through scatterers, and depth-of-field control. The SLMs in this review are positioned in the system aperture and modulate the input light in various ways to achieve different imaging goals. This review begins with the nearly 20-year-old Fresnel incoherent correlation holography system, continues with coded-aperture holography, and progresses to the most recent versions of interferenceless coded-aperture holography systems.