Fast Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Spatial Light Modulators

Stressed-liquid-crystal (SLC) light-modulating devices suitable for use as liquidcrystal- on-silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulators (SLMs) that could operate in nearand mid-infrared wavelength ranges have been demonstrated. These SLC devices were conceived to exploit the SLC electrooptical effect, which makes it possible to obtain response times shorter than those of prior infrared LCOS SLMs.