MWIR Spatial Light Modulators for Hyperspectral Image Projectors

The proposed effort is to build a high resolution, high speed spatial light modulator (SLM) to be used in infrared (IR) spectral projectors. An IR spectral projector produces programmable spectra by dispersing light onto a programmable array, currently digital micromirror devices (DMDs), which either transmit or block selected components of the light. the light is then recombined to form complex spectral signatures. Due to small pixel sizes and binary operation per pixel, diffraction from the DMD creates severe problems for many applications. This proposal addresses these problems through the development of a SLM that is spatially continuous within each spectral line and provides analog intensity modulation using liquid crystal (LC) technology. The SLM will be designed for use in the 3 - 5 um spectral range, and it will eliminate the intra-spectral diffraction associated with the DMD device without sacrificing speed or resolution.