Modulation device

In combination, laser radiation and a modulation device, A modulation device for laser radiation, the modulation device comprising at least one modulation means which can change at least in part the laser radiation which passes through the modulation device, wherein the modulation device comprises beam splitter means which can split the laser radiation into at least two component beams of radiation, that the device furthermore in the direction of beam propagation downstream of the beam splitter means comprises beam combining means which can recombine at least two of the component beams of radiation, and that the at least one modulation means is located between the beam splitter means and the beam combining means such that at least one of the component beams can be changed by the at least one modulation means such that the laser radiation which has been combined by the beam combining means or in an area of the beam combining means at least in a given area of space has the desired modulation as a result of the interference of at least two component beams,

• wherein the laser radiation has, at least in sections, in a first direction (Y), the fast axis, which is perpendicular to the middle direction (Z) of propagation, a greater divergence than in a second direction (X) the slow axis, which is perpendicular to the middle direction (Z) of propagation and to the first direction (Y), the separation into component beams taking place in the first direction (Y).