Switchable Zero Order Diffraction Gratings as Light Valves.
Abstract
The goal of this project is to produce a light valve based on the principle of the cancellation of the zero order of diffraction. The light valve works by the displacement of two facing aligned phase gratings with respect to one another by half of a grating period. The light valve is to be simple and mass producible into matrix addressable arrays. Such arrays would serve as displays or as spatial light modulators in optical signal processing. The material we have chosen to fabricate such valves is polyvinylidine fluoride (PVF2). It is transparent to visible light and is also strongly piezoelectric. The piezoelectricity would exploited to produce the motion. On the basis of our previous research we have chosen to fabricate the gratings by embossing and to produce the motion using a chevron geometry which amplifies the motion created by the piezoelectricity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA142513
Entities
People
- J. Melngailis
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology