A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications
Spatial light modulators, as dynamic flat-panel optical devices, have witnessed rapid development over the past two decades, concomitant with the advancements in micro- and opto-electronic integration technology. In particular, liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) technologies have been r...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Editorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals, Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS, China
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Opto-Electronic Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oes.2023.230026 |
| _version_ | 1827397671348862976 |
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| author | Yiqian Yang Andrew Forbes Liangcai Cao |
| author_facet | Yiqian Yang Andrew Forbes Liangcai Cao |
| author_sort | Yiqian Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spatial light modulators, as dynamic flat-panel optical devices, have witnessed rapid development over the past two decades, concomitant with the advancements in micro- and opto-electronic integration technology. In particular, liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) technologies have been regarded as versatile tools for generating arbitrary optical fields and tailoring all degrees of freedom beyond just phase and amplitude. These devices have gained significant interest in the nascent field of structured light in space and time, facilitated by their ease of use and real-time light manipulation, fueling both fundamental research and practical applications. Here we provide an overview of the key working principles of LC-SLMs and review the significant progress made to date in their deployment for various applications, covering topics as diverse as beam shaping and steering, holography, optical trapping and tweezers, measurement, wavefront coding, optical vortex, and quantum optics. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the potential opportunities and technical challenges in this rapidly developing field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:12:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c89d4ee8794c4ad391c7c49c2abc642b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2097-0382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:12:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Editorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals, Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS, China |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Opto-Electronic Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c89d4ee8794c4ad391c7c49c2abc642b2023-12-27T09:33:27ZengEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals, Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS, ChinaOpto-Electronic Science2097-03822023-10-012812910.29026/oes.2023.230026oes-2023-0026A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applicationsYiqian Yang0Andrew Forbes1Liangcai Cao2Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaSchool of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South AfricaDepartment of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaSpatial light modulators, as dynamic flat-panel optical devices, have witnessed rapid development over the past two decades, concomitant with the advancements in micro- and opto-electronic integration technology. In particular, liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) technologies have been regarded as versatile tools for generating arbitrary optical fields and tailoring all degrees of freedom beyond just phase and amplitude. These devices have gained significant interest in the nascent field of structured light in space and time, facilitated by their ease of use and real-time light manipulation, fueling both fundamental research and practical applications. Here we provide an overview of the key working principles of LC-SLMs and review the significant progress made to date in their deployment for various applications, covering topics as diverse as beam shaping and steering, holography, optical trapping and tweezers, measurement, wavefront coding, optical vortex, and quantum optics. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the potential opportunities and technical challenges in this rapidly developing field.https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oes.2023.230026liquid crystal spatial light modulatorsliquid crystal devicesstructured lightholographyapplications |
| spellingShingle | Yiqian Yang Andrew Forbes Liangcai Cao A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications Opto-Electronic Science liquid crystal spatial light modulators liquid crystal devices structured light holography applications |
| title | A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications |
| title_full | A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications |
| title_fullStr | A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications |
| title_short | A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators: devices and applications |
| title_sort | review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators devices and applications |
| topic | liquid crystal spatial light modulators liquid crystal devices structured light holography applications |
| url | https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oes.2023.230026 |
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