Optical information processor

An optical information processor, comprising:

• a spatial light modulator comprising an n-degree (n being an integer) twisted nematic liquid crystal element which is illuminated by linearly polarized coherent light;
• and
• a linear polarization detector element for detecting light diffracted by the spatial light modulator,
• wherein major axis directions of liquid crystal molecules at an incident light side of the liquid crystal element substantially conform to a direction of a linear polarization axis of the linearly polarized coherent light, while a detecting axis of the linear polarization detector element is inclined in a direction opposite to a liquid crystal molecule twisting direction of said liquid crystal element with respect to the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules at the incident light side substantially by (90-n/2) degrees, and
• wherein the detecting axis of the linear polarization detector is arranged with a free angle relative to the linear polarization axis direction of the linearly polarized coherent light, not limited to a parallel or a perpendicular relationship.

An optical information processor, comprising:

• a linear polarization element for linearly polarizing coherent light;
• a spatial light modulator formed of an n-degree (n being an integer) twisted nematic liquid crystal element which is illuminated by the coherent light having traveled through the linear polarization element;
• and
• a linear polarization detector element for detecting light diffracted by the spatial light modulator,
• wherein major axis directions of liquid crystal molecules at an incident light side of the n-degree twisted nematic liquid crystal element substantially conform to a polarization axis direction of the linear polarization element, while a detecting axis of the linear polarization detector element is inclined in a direction opposite to a liquid crystal molecule twisting direction of said liquid crystal element with respect to the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules at the incident light side substantially by (90-n/2) degrees, and
• wherein the detecting axis of the linear polarization detector is arranged with a free angle relative to the direction of the polarization axis of the linear polarization element, not limited to a parallel or a perpendicular relationship.

An optical information processor, comprising:

• a linear polarization element for linearly polarizing coherent light;
• a spatial light modulator formed by a rotatory polarization element, having crystal molecules, which is illuminated by the coherent light having traveled through the linear polarization element;
• and
• a linear polarization detector element for detecting light diffracted by the spatial light modulator,
• wherein major axis directions of the crystal molecules at an incident light side of the rotatory polarization element substantially conform to a direction of a polarization axis of the linear polarization element, while a detecting axis of the linear polarization detector crosses substantially at right angles with a major polarization axis of a zero-order diffracted light component included in the diffracted light, and
• wherein the detecting axis of the linear polarization detector is arranged with a free angle relative to the direction of the polarization axis of the linear polarization element, not limited to a parallel or a perpendicular relationship.