Characterization of the optical quality and modulating properties of a PLZT modulator through Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry

Abstract

The Physics Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in collaboration with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has applied Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry[1] to quantifying the polarization modulating properties of PLZT spatial light modulators. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optical quality of a wire-bonded transmissive PLZT (9/65/35) modulator array, the uniformity of modulation across pixels, and the cross-talk between adjacent pixels.