Optimization of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator performance

Frederic Perennes; William A. Crossland

doi:10.1117/1.601455

1 August 1997 Optimization of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator performance

Frederic Perennes, William A. Crossland

Optical Engineering, Vol. 36, Issue 8, (August 1997). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601455

The switching mechanisms of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulators (OASLMs) using a photosensitive structure made of an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer sandwiched in between an indium tin oxide coated glass sheet and a reflective metal layer are reviewed. Devices based on photoconductor and photodiode layers are briefly reviewed and attention is focused on pixelated metal mirror (PMM) devices, which offer fast switching and good optical characteristics with the same sensitivity range as the photodiode OASLMs. They are particularly suitable for high frame rate SLMs with intense read beams. Optimum drive conditions for this type of device are considered. An equivalent electrical circuit is proposed for the photosensitive structure and the voltage drop across the liquid crystal layer is investigated and related to the optical response of the device. Experimental work is carried out to demonstrate the validity of our equivalent circuit. We show that the synchronization of a light source with the case pulse enables the OASLM to work at frame rates of a few kilohertz. We also demonstrate that the exact synchronization of the write light source with the write pulse enhances the potential memory of the device.

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Frederic Perennes and William A. Crossland "Optimization of ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator performance," Optical Engineering 36(8), (1 August 1997). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601455

Published: 1 August 1997

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