Patent ID: 7656572

Claim:
A method for modifying a wavefront of an optical beam, whereas a two-dimensional modulation layer is arranged transversely with respect to an optical axis of the beam in such a way that a beam cross section of the optical beam is accommodated approximately completely, at least one of two basal surfaces of the modulation layer in a region accommodating the optical beam is cooled two-dimensionally, the modulation layer being directly locally loaded by a thermal pattern that is externally produced by a heat source that is independent of the radiation of the optical beam whose wavefront is to be influenced, and a layer thickness being chosen to be so thin that propagation of heat transversely with respect to the optical axis is negligibly small, the layer thickness being chosen to be so thick and the thermal pattern being chosen such that the wavefront of the incident beam becomes capable of modification by the thermal pattern on the basis of thermal action on the modulation layer.