The transmissive spatial light modulator uses electrically addressed thin-film transistor driven liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), while the reflective spatial light modulator uses silicon-based liquid crystal display (LCOS-LCD). Schematic of a liquid crystal-based Spatial Light Modulator. Liquid crystals are birefringent, so applying a voltage to the cell changes the effective refractive index seen by the incident wave, and thus the phase retardation of the reflected wave. The use of LC. Our high-power SLMs are recommended for these applications. They play an important role in adaptive optics as phase-correction devices.
[pdf] The resolution of an SLM refers to its ability to distinguish between two close light points, typically measured in pixels or micrometers. Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) are versatile optical devices that modulate the intensity, phase, or polarization of light waves in space and time. A simple example is an overhead projector transparency. It is the best qualified and diversified SLM platform with many versions optimized for specific requirements, including high reflectivity versions featuring a dielectric mirror for high power applications. Our SLMs consist of liquid crystal (LC) pixels, each independently addressed, acting as separate variable retarders.
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