Abstract

Normal incidence electro-optic spatial light modulators are desirable for applications in computing and communications. Ideally, such devices should be capable of high speed operation, have a large dynamic range, and accommodate broad spectral bandwidths. They should also be insensitive to small ambient and device temperature fluctuations and should be integrable with detector and control electronics. To date, most research on semiconductor modulators has focused on amplitude modulation and has relied on the quantum-confined-Stark effect (QCSE) to produce the required change in absorption. However, limitations on the number of quantum wells that realistically can be incorporated into multiple quantum well (MQW) amplitude modulators prevents the contrast ratio from exceeding ~10:1 (and more typically it is ~4:1). In addition, QCSE modulators with a narrow optical bandwidth inherently have a narrow operating temperature range.¹

© 1997 Optical Society of America