Optics and electro-optics researchers are now working to pave the way toward enhanced spatial light modulators (SLMs) that are more compact, higher speed, and more precise.
Developed by researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Cambridge, MA), in collaboration with a team from the University of Washington (Seattle), a simple SLM is made of gold electrodes and covered by a thin film of electro-optical material—when electric signals are applied to it, its refractive index changes. By dividing the material into pixels, the researchers say, it becomes possible to control “the intensity of light in each pixel separately with interlocking electrodes.”
According to the researchers, traditional SLMs—which are common components used in a myriad of applications, such as laser imaging, optical computing, and home theater projectors—can control “aspects of light, including intensity and phase, pixel by pixel.” They note that most such modulators rely on mechanical moving parts to achieve that control; however, this often means bulky, slower optical devices.
“This simple [SLM] is a bridge between the realms of optics and electronics,” says Cristina Benea-Chelmus, a postdoctoral fellow at the Paulson School and first author of the paper. “When you interface optics with electronics, you can use the entire backbone of electronics that has been developed to open up new functionalities in optics.”
The new device “dramatically changes the intensity of light” per pixel, allowing it to more efficiently modulate light across the visible range. It has the potential to enhance applications in imaging and virtual reality systems, as well as quantum communications and sensing. Reference: I.-C. Benea-Chelmus et al., Nat. Commun., 12, 5928 (2021); doi:10.1038/s41467-021-26035-y.
Justine Murphy | Multimedia Director, Digital Infrastructure
Justine Murphy is the multimedia director for Endeavor Business Media's Digital Infrastructure Group. She is a multiple award-winning writer and editor with more 20 years of experience in newspaper publishing as well as public relations, marketing, and communications. For nearly 10 years, she has covered all facets of the optics and photonics industry as an editor, writer, web news anchor, and podcast host for an internationally reaching magazine publishing company. Her work has earned accolades from the New England Press Association as well as the SIIA/Jesse H. Neal Awards. She received a B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.