Photon-Counting Spatial Light Modulator Technology Development.

Abstract

The goal of this program is to measure and improve the performance of photon-counting spatial light modulators operating in an optically-addressed reflection mode. Experimental results are obtained for silicon devices. These device consists of an avalanche photodiode (APD) operated in the Geiger mode with the front and back surface of the diode forming an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity. The phase delay within the cavity is modified directly by the avalanche via the free-carrier refractive index or by Joule heating. Experiments were conducted first with the write laser beam at 1064 nm and the read beam at the same wavelength and second with the write beam at 850 nm and the read beam at 1300 nm. The device differs qualitatively from other approaches such as smart pixels by virtue of its photon-counting sensitivity its low cost and its ability to form a spatially-coherent read-out wavefront. (MM)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 30, 1994
Accession Number
ADA292619

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey H. Hunt
  • Richard B. Holmes

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Avalanche Photodiodes
  • Detectors
  • Electrical Properties
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Energy
  • Energy Consumption
  • Fabrication
  • Lasers
  • Modulation
  • Modulators
  • Optical Modulators
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Refractive Index
  • Semiconductors
  • Thermal Conductivity

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy