Abstract

A reflection-mode spatial light modulator (RSLM) with a high bandwidth, a large contrast ratio, and low power consumption will have great potential for use in free space optical interconnects. Reflection-mode devices modulate the intensity of the reflected light and could possibly be used to optically interconnect internal nodes of a transmitting chip to internal nodes of a receiving chip. Existing electrooptic materials do not allow for a RSLM with all of the above characteristics. As a result of material limitations, current RSLM designs must incorporate performance tradeoffs. The performance of Fabry-Perot (FP), surface plasmon (SP), and long range surface plasmon (LRSP) thin film nonlinear polymeric reflection modulators are analyzed here.

© 1993 Optical Society of America