Dynamic diffractive optical transform

A dynamic optical transform, comprising:

• a body of material that has an index of refraction whose value varies in response to an electric potential placed across a portion of the material;
• a first electrode disposed adjacent the body of material and a second electrode disposed adjacent the body of material, at least one of the first and second electrodes being addressable so as to apply a selected spatial pattern of electric potential to the body of material;
• and
• a processor for receiving arbitrary optical thickness profile information and, in response thereto, producing and applying to said at least one of the first and second electrodes a spatial pattern of electric potential so as to cause the body of material to produce a quantized index of refraction profile corresponding essentially to the arbitrary optical thickness profile.

A method for transforming the wavefront of a light beam, comprising:

• directing the light beam through a body of material that has an index of refraction whose value varies in response to an electrical potential placed across a portion of the material;
• determining from arbitrary optical thickness profile information a spatial pattern of electric potential that, when applied to at least one face of the body of material, will cause the body of material to produce a retardance profile corresponding essentially to the arbitrary optical thickness profile;
• and
• applying to said at least one face of the body of material the spatial pattern of electric potential so determined.