spatial light modulators and their applications: introduction by the guest editors
TRANSCRIPT
Spatial light modulators and theirapplications: introduction by the guest editors
Sadik Esener, Joseph L. Horner, and Kristina M. Johnson
The feature in this issue of Applied Optics includes a collection of papers originally presented at the 1990Lake Tahoe topical meeting on Spatial Light modulators. These papers emphasize materials and devicesfor spatial light modulation, smart pixels, and applications.
In a technological era in which optics plays an increas-ingly important role, a spatial light modulator (SLM),which is used to spatially modulate optical fields,remains the critical component for numerous opticalsystems. In particular, performances of optical dataprocessing systems, adaptive optics, displays, andoptical interconnects are tightly coupled to the charac-teristics of SLM's. Therefore advances made inSLM technologies have a direct impact on thesecritical application areas. It is truly the enablingtechnology of the next decade, and whether systemconcepts produced over the past decades wend theirways into the commercial marketplace depends onthe successful performance of these devices.
During the past few years, we have witnessed twoimportant developments in the area of SLM's. First,research in SLM device technologies, such as ferroelec-tric liquid crystals, multiple quantum wells, anddeformable membranes has resulted in higher perfor-mance devices. The viability of deformable mem-brane and liquid-crystal devices has been demon-strated by their successful use in displays, printers,adaptive optics, and real-time image correlation appli-cations, while multiple quantum well modulator ar-
S. Esener is with the Department of Electrical and ComputerEngineering, University of California San Diego, Room R-007,9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093; J. L. Horner is withUSAF Rome Laboratories, Hanscom AFB, Mass., 01731; and K. M.Johnson is with the Department of Electrical and ComputerEngineering, University of Colorado, at Boulder, Boulder, Col.,80309-0425..
Received 8 May 1992.0003-6935/92/203879-01$05.00/0.© 1992 Optical Society of America.
rays have been the key components of the AT&Tphotonic switching system demonstration. Second,research in architectures and systems in the areas ofoptical computing, optical interconnects, and opticalneural networks has led to the emergence of a newclass of SLM's that are referred to as smart pixels.Smart pixels are arrays of electronic integrated cir-cuits with optical receivers for inputs and optical lighttransmitters, including light modulators, for outputs.It is expected that smart pixels will be the keycomponent of future data processing systems becausethey can optimally blend the functional flexibility ofelectronics and the communication capabilities ofoptics. Currently various light modulation tech-niques are being applied toward the development ofsuch devices.
As for the future, we are confident that newmaterials (e.g., faster liquid crystals and quarternaryIII-V alloys) and novel device and integration con-cepts (e.g., surface plasmon SLM's and epitaxiallift-off and direct bonding techniques) will enter theSLM research arena to satisfy the insatiable demandfor higher speed, resolution, contrast, and electronicfunctionality. On the other hand, system issuessuch as packaging will have an impact on the develop-ment of future SLM's, and the emergence of newapplication areas (e.g., neural networks) will continueto present new challenges.
This special issue of Applied Optics reflects some ofthese recent developments in the field, and attemptsto provide a window to the future. Toward achiev-ing these objectives, this issue is broadly organizedinto three sections: materials and devices, smartpixels, and applications.
10 July 1992 / Vol. 31, No. 20 / APPLIED OPTICS 3879