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Thermocapillary dewetting-based dynamic spatial light modulator

Authors :
Jonathan P. Singer
Valeria Saro-Cortes
Dylan A. Kovacevich
Michael P. Nitzsche
Emily Davis
Tianxing Ma
Arielle Marie Gamboa
Source :
Optics Letters. 46:3721
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Optica Publishing Group, 2021.

Abstract

Dynamic spatial light modulators (SLMs) are capable of precisely modulating a beam of light by tuning the phase or intensity of an array of pixels in parallel. They can be utilized in applications ranging from image projection to beam front aberration and microscopic particle manipulation with optical tweezers. However, conventional dynamic SLMs are typically incompatible with high-power sources, as they contain easily damaged optically absorbing components. To address this, we present an SLM that utilizes a viscous film with a local thickness controlled via thermocapillary dewetting. The film is reflowable and can cycle through different patterns, representing, to the best of our knowledge, the first steps towards a dynamic optical device based on the thermocapillary dewetting mechanism.

Details

ISSN :
15394794 and 01469592
Volume :
46
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Optics Letters
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....b0654bb1a81766d0ec1fb059e5847bbc
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.429994