Voltage-controlled lasing pixels for projection display

Abstract

A lasing pixel device that implements a low-voltage addressable spatially patterned variable loss element placed inside an optically pumped high-gain laser cavity is studied experimentally. A polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) was used as the loss element. It was found to have high output (600 lumens/cm2 at the device faceplate), very high on-screen contrast (1000:1), and narrow spectral linewidth (∼3 nm), which make it potentially useful for a nonscanned laser projection display. A grayscale model of pixel output versus element loss was developed and compared favorably to measurements.