INFRARED MODULATORS USING FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

WHILE MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF MIDAND FAR-INFRARED SENSING ARE INCREASING, THERE ARE VERY FEW TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR LIGHT MODULATION IN THOSE SPECTRAL BANDS. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP NON-MECHANICAL SHUTTERS USING THE ELECTRO-OPTIC EFFECT IN FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS. THE SHUTTERS WE PROPOSE WILL BE SMALL AND RUGGED, AND HAVE HIGH THROUGHHPUT (70-90%), HIGH ON:OFF CONTRAST (40:1 OR GREATER), WIDE-SPECTRAL-BAND OPERATION (E.G. 3-5 UM), HIGH SWITCHING SPEEDS (100 US), AND LOW POWER CONSUMPTION (10 UJ/CM2/SWITCHING). PHASE I DEMONSTRATION MODULATORS WILL HAVE 12 MM APERTURES, WHICH CAN BE INCREASED TO SEVERAL INCHES DURING PHASE II DEVELOPMENT. INITIAL WORK IN PHASE I WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE 3-5 UM SPECTRAL BAND, WITH EXTENSION TO THE 8-14 UM BAND POSSIBLE DURING PHASE II.