Phase-modulating apparatus

A method for setting a phase-modulating apparatus that includes, a spatial light modulator including a plurality of pixels arranged adjacent to one another two-dimensionally, each pixel being capable of phase-modulating input light in response to application of a drive voltage, an input value setting unit setting an input value for each pixel, and a driving unit converting the control value to a voltage value, the driving unit driving each pixel with a drive voltage corresponding to the voltage value, the method comprising:

• creating a plurality of sets of reference data, the creating step includes:
• measuring phase modulation amounts, for at least one pixel, denoting the voltage-dependent phase modulation characteristics;
• generating a plurality of sets of reference data, based on the voltage-dependent phase modulation characteristics, such that each set of reference data corresponds to at least one pixel and that each set of reference data correlates a plurality of first values from which input values are taken, and a plurality of second values from which control values are taken to ensure that the relationship between the plurality of first values and phase modulation amounts attained by the corresponding at least one pixel is a prescribed linear relationship;
• and
• setting the converting unit to convert, for each pixel, the control value to the voltage value by referencing the corresponding set of reference data.