lightbez

Lightbez is a term used in photonics and computer graphics to describe systems and methods for shaping and controlling light beams in three-dimensional space. The concept encompasses devices and algorithms that tailor the spatial intensity, phase, and polarization of light to produce desired field distributions, enabling precise illumination, imaging, or projection.

The term is not standardized and has appeared in academic and hobbyist contexts as a loosely defined category rather than a formal technology. In practice, lightbez implementations often combine metasurfaces or spatial light modulators with adaptive control algorithms to generate complex beam profiles, including flat-top, Bessel, or vortex beams.

In many descriptions, lightbez relies on two common approaches: passive metasurface sheets that impose fixed phase patterns, and programmable photonic devices such as spatial light modulators or microelectromechanical systems that adjust patterns in real time. In some cases, lightbez also refers to software-driven optimization that computes phase masks to achieve target fields, akin to beam-shaping algorithms used with SLMs.

Applications include high-precision illumination for microscopy, structured-light 3D scanning, optical trapping, immersive projection, and AR/VR display lighting. Advantages include a compact form factor, potential high efficiency when properly designed, and rapid reconfiguration. Limitations involve wavelength sensitivity, chromatic aberrations, manufacturing cost, and the need for calibration.

Further reading: metasurfaces, beam shaping, spatial light modulation, holography. See also: Bezier curves in optics, photonics, optical engineering.