In a pixilated spatial light modulator having a mesh-based modulator element per pixel, a real location-dependent amplitude and a location-dependent phase can be adjusted independently of each other for modulating a coherent wavefront using complex values. A complex-valued spatial light modulator includes a regularly constructed pixel array, wherein each pixel comprises a controllable reflective line mesh. The modulation of the amplitude and phase take place independently of each other in each modulator element, by relative motions of the self-supporting line mesh relative to a base plate. The line meshes are suspended and supported such that both the distance between the base plate and the line mesh (normal adjustment for amplitude modulation) and the lateral displacement of the line mesh in the mesh plane itself (phase modulation) are modified by a system controller. The reflected light is thus modulated independently of each other.
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