Generation of hollow beams by using a binary spatial light modulator.

We demonstrate the generation of hollow laser beams by using a binary spatial light modulator and compare the results with those for a continuous modulator. The binary phase modulator produces beams that have continuous, azimuthally varying phase profiles and can be dynamically changed with kilohertz refresh rates. The intensity and phase profiles are recorded through the focus of an imaging lens and are compared with scalar diffraction theory. We highlight properties of the beams relevant to optical dipole traps.