Spatial light modulator

About: Spatial light modulator is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 9043 publications have been published within this topic receiving 130143 citations.

Fully dynamic multiple-beam optical tweezers

Abstract: We demonstrate a technique for obtaining fully dynamic multiple-beam optical tweezers using the generalized phase contrast (GPC) method and a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). The GPC method facilitates the direct transformation of an input phase pattern to an array of high-intensity beams, which can function as efficient multiple optical traps. This straightforward process enables an adjustable number of traps and realtime control of the position, size, shape and intensity of each individual tweezer-beam in arbitrary arrays by encoding the appropriate phase pattern on the SLM. Experimental results show trapping and dynamic manipulation of multiple micro-spheres in a liquid solution.

Phase-only transmissive spatial light modulator based on tunable dielectric metasurface

Abstract: Rapidly developing augmented reality (AR) and 3D holographic display technologies require spatial light modulators (SLM) with high resolution and viewing angle to be able to satisfy increasing customer demands. Currently available SLMs, as well as their performance, are limited by their large pixel sizes of the order of several micrometres. Further pixel size miniaturization has been stagnant due to the persistent challenge to reduce the inter-pixel crosstalk associated with the liquid crystal (LC) cell thickness, which has to be large enough to accumulate the required 2{\pi} phase difference. Here, we propose a concept of tunable dielectric metasurfaces modulated by a liquid crystal environment, which can provide abrupt phase change and uncouple the phase accumulation from the LC cell thickness, ultimately enabling the pixel size miniaturization. We present a proof-of-concept metasurface-based SLM device, configured to generate active beam steering with >35% efficiency and large beam deflection angle of 11°, with LC cell thickness of only 1.5 {\mu}m, much smaller than conventional devices. We achieve the pixel size of 1.14 {\mu}m corresponding to the image resolution of 877 lp/mm, which is 30 times larger comparing to the presently available commercial SLM devices. High resolution and viewing angle of the metasurface-based SLMs opens up a new path to the next generation of near-eye AR and 3D holographic display technologies.

Monolithic spatial light modulator and memory package

Abstract: A modulator package (10) with memory mounted adjacent the modulator allowing operation at two different data rates. The first rate is a steady-state data rate that requires a minimal number of wires (16a-d) from processor to array. The second rate is made possible by a memory buffer with different input and output rates and the ability to have a relatively high pin count. The second rate is the burst data rate which is the time it takes the modulator to update for new data.

Optical pulse compression to 3.4 fs in the monocycle region by feedback phase compensation.

Abstract: We compensated for chirp of optical pulses with an over-one-octave bandwidth (495-1090 nm; center wavelength of 655.4 nm) produced by self-phase modulation in a single argon-filled hollow fiber and generated 3.4-fs, 1.56 optical-cycle pulses (500 nJ, 1-kHz repetition rate). This was achieved with a feedback system combined with only one 4-f phase compensator with a spatial light modulator and a significantly improved phase characterizer based on modified spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse in the visible-to-infrared region.

Pixel data processing for spatial light modulator having staggered pixels

Abstract: Methods of processing pixel data for display on a spatial light modulator (SLM) (15) having staggered pixels. An analog image signal in interlaced field format is sampled to provide staggered pixel data in field format, where pixel values in odd lines are offset from pixel values in even lines. This staggered pixel data may be converted to progressive scan frame format using special calculations to accommodate the line-to-line offset of the pixels (FIGS. 2-6). Vertical scaling may also be performed, either before or after the data is converted to frame format (FIGS. 7 and 8).