1. A method of producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy comprising: &lsqb;a&rsqb; producing an initial beam of electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths and having a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the initial beam of electromagnetic energy; &lsqb;b&rsqb; separating the initial beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors; &lsqb;c&rsqb; altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of the substantially separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors; &lsqb;d&rsqb;, combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and &lsqb;e&rsqb; resolving from the single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another.