Abstract

Spatial light modulators have been demonstrated by a number of groups using GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well materials. These optical modulators utilize the enhanced electro-absorption and electro-dispersion associated with quantum confined excitons. Many of these devices use pixelated electrodes to apply a spatially varying electric field across the quantum well layer. We have investigated non-pixelated devices in which the applied field is varied through spatially modulated illumination. These optically addressed spatial light modulators (OASLM) are simple to fabricate and have demonstrated higher spatial resolution than pixelated devices. [1-4] Here we present recent experiments designed to determine the lifetime of the transient space charge distributions generated in GaAs/AlGaAs OASLM's.

© 1995 Optical Society of America