Training Adaptability in Digital Skills

Recent advances in programmable Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) have lead to their use in optical processing systems for high-speed target recognition. Unfortunately the state-of-the-art in SLMs still limits the overall performance of the opticalcorrelators. These limitations include operating speed and optical efficiency. Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) proposes to draw on its expertise in the development of high-speed SLMs to develop a high-speed bipolar multi-level SLM. The key is developinga very high-speed SLM that also has high optical efficiency when used as a bipolar multi-level modulator. During Phase I we have analyzed new Liquid Crystal (LC) materials, and developed a conceptual design for a high-speed, high-efficiency bipolarmulti-level 256x256 SLM. During Phase II, the new 256x256 SLM and associated drivers will be fully developed. In addition, we will develop an optical correlator system utilizing the new bipolar high-speed 256x256 multi-level SLMs. This opticalcorrelator system will be delivered at the end of the Phase II. As the only supplier of high-speed multi-level LC SLMs, and a developer of optical processing systems for over 10 years, BNS is highly qualified to complete this program.