Next Generation Electronic Materials For Electro-Optic Modulators

Many opto-electronic systems require the modulation of optical radiation. In particular, the modulation of light is essential to optical communications systems, detectors, and sensors for many missile defense applications. This modulation is typically accomplished electro-optically. Traditional materials used to bring about the modulation often have slow response times or require high voltages. In order to meet the ever increasingly stringent demands of advanced optical systems, it has become necessary to search for new electro-optic materials with high modulation efficiency, fast switching times, and low switching voltages. The problems of prior art technology have been eliminated by Reveo's high speed solid state spatial light modulator (SLM). The heart of the device is a newly identified E-O material known as RbHSeO4. Projected half-wave voltages are on the order of 27 volts with switching times less than or equal to one nanosecond. The ultimate goal of this program is the fabrication of an N x M pixelated SLM array with these characteristics. In Phase II, an SLM with N, M - 128 will be fabricated. Phase III will consist of the rapid introduction of revolutionary SLM-based products to the market. Anticipated military/government applications include C3I and pattern recognition systems. Potential civilian applications in the communications arena include information systems, telephones, optical computing and interconnects. Displays for television and video games/entertainment are other obvious dual-use technologies. Application of SLMs for robotic vision systems in industrial assembly lines and automated inspection systems are also envisaged.