Dates
General information
This project aims to develop spatial light modulators (SLMs) that can operate over a wide range of frequencies using the concept of geometric phase modulation. Specifically, the project focuses on liquid crystal based "Bragg-Berry " mirrors that can shape the spatial profiles of phase or amplitude of an incident beam for electromagnetic waves in the visible range, as well as in the microwave and terahertz ranges. The liquid crystal alignment will be configured optically using photo-sensitive orienting materials such as azobenzene layers, chalcogenide films, and molecular motors. The project will involve a range of fields including soft matter physics, linear and non-linear optics, light-matter interaction for various frequency ranges, and semiconductor physics. The project objectives include developing a general approach to optically-controlled SLMs for a wide band of frequencies in the visible range, implementing optically/electrically-controlled phase modulation in the terahertz and microwave electromagnetic waves, and optimizing the electromagnetic wave modulation. The development of SLMs with wide spectral control is significant for many applications in optics and optoelectronics, including optical processing, communication, optical interconnections, real-time beam steering, and image displays. The ability to operate over a wide range of frequencies using the concept of geometric phase modulation is particularly promising for applications in the microwave and terahertz ranges, where visible light modulating techniques are not efficient.