Abstract

There is a growing need for higher frame rate spatial light modulators (SLM) for optical data processing (ODP), adaptive optics (AO), and display applications. Liquid crystal light valves (LCLV) based on nematic materials are relatively slow in their response time and typically cannot be operated beyond video rates (30-60 Hz). While the recent introduction of SLMs based on ferroelectric liquid crystals has alleviated the response time problem considerably, these devices are inherently binary and also not easily amenable to phase modulation. Other potential spatial light modulators suffer either from the limitation of binary operation like the magnetooptic SLM, or from a limited resolution like the deformable mirror SLM. Thus, there is presently no satisfactory solution to the critical needs in the fields of optical data processing and adaptive optics for continuous phase modulation at high resolution and frame rates.

© 1990 Optical Society of America