High-Speed Micromirror-Based Spatial Light Modulators

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) enable dynamic optical patterning through pixel-level control of coherent light, facilitating emerging applications such as optical neural interfaces, deep tissue optical imaging, and near-eye displays for augmented and virtual reality. However, the advancement of many of these applications is constrained by the limitations of commercial SLMs, which suffer from either low optical efficiency (e.g., tip/tilt digital micromirror devices) or low refresh rates (e.g., liquid crystal on silicon based SLMs). In this talk, I will present our work developing a piston-motion micromirror array with a co-designed integrated circuit driver, aimed at achieving an overall system with high optical efficiency and a refresh rate of >5kHz.

Speaker: Liz Murray, UC Berkeley