1. Silicon backplane ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator for uses within an optical telecommunications environment
- Author
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J. L. de Bougrenet de la Tocnaye, Bruno Fracasso, M. Birch, C. Letort, D. Krüerke, Kevin Heggarty, Département Optique (OPT), Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] (IMT)-Télécom Bretagne-Université européenne de Bretagne - European University of Brittany (UEB), Fonctions Optiques pour les Technologies de l'informatiON (FOTON), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées - Rennes (INSA Rennes), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie (ENSSAT)-Télécom Bretagne, Université européenne de Bretagne - European University of Brittany (UEB)-Télécom Bretagne-Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] (IMT), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées - Rennes (INSA Rennes), and Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie (ENSSAT)-Télécom Bretagne-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
Materials science ,business.industry ,Optical cross-connect ,Beam steering ,Holography ,Optical communication ,02 engineering and technology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,01 natural sciences ,Optical switch ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,law.invention ,010309 optics ,Liquid crystal on silicon ,020210 optoelectronics & photonics ,Optics ,Backplane ,Liquid crystal ,law ,0103 physical sciences ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,[SPI.OPTI]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Optics / Photonic ,Optoelectronics ,business ,Telecommunications - Abstract
International audience; Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) devices are ideal for uses as miniature light modulating elements. They can replace either transmissive LC (TFT) micro-displays or micro-mechanical MEMS and have been extensively used in display applications. Pioneering works have proposed adapting them to implement optical communication functions such as optical spatial switches. For the first time to our knowledge, a industrial LCOS device has been specifically adapted for telecommunications uses only on a pre-industrial level. We discuss here the relevant specifications and present the optical performance of this preliminary "telco" LCOS prototype. The device is a silicon backplane SXGA ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator operating in the 1.5 μ m telecom wavelength range. It is used as the beam steering core of an optical free-space switch whose optical and system test results are also presented.
- Published
- 2004
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