Liquid crystal over silicon spatial light modulators: emphasis on design for applications

Abstract

Liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulators are made by placing a thin layer of liquid crystal directly on top of a silicon chip. For a recent review of this technology see, for example, reference [1]. We have constructed a 256 by 256 binary spatial light modulator (SLM) for an optical correlator application which uses a chiral smectic C (SmC*) ferroelectric liquid crystal as the light modulating layer [2]. This device is currently the subject of our planarization experiments. We have also made a 128 by 128 analog SLM and in this summary we present some early results from this device