Abstract

The electron beam-addressed liquid crystal phase modulator is an extension of the charge transfer signal processor developed by Warde and Dillon,¹ in that the device is optimized for phase modulation by incorporating a thick layer of homogeneously aligned liquid crystal as the light modulation element The index of refraction of the liquid crystal layer is modulated by the electric field set up by an accumulated charge distribution via the electro-optic effect. The resulting spatial variations in the index of refraction then modulate the phase of the readout light upon reflection.

© 1990 Optical Society of America