Minimally invasive optical beam profiler

Proposed and demonstrated is a minimally invasive optical beam profiler using a non-pixelated liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The profiler features high detection sensitivity in the visible band, high 50 lines/mm spatial resolution, beam observation zone 100% fill factor and magnification flexibility, and video rate operations. Applications for this beam profiler includes plug and test beam measurements with minimal interruptions and feedback effects introduced into the optical beam system under test.