Resolution in optically addressed spatial light modulators based on dye-doped liquid crystals

Abstract

Dye-doped nematic liquid crystals (LCs) are studied as materials for single-layer optically addressed spatial light modulators. The dopant is 2,5-azo-substituted anthraquinone (ASAQ) dye. The resolution in the ASAQ-doped LC systems does not depend on the device thickness (in the 5-125 (μm range). The efficiency increases with the increase of the thickness and begins to saturate in devices thicker than 40 μm. The limiting resolution in the thick devices is 400 line pairs per millimeter. The limitations of performance (efficiency and resolution) in the studied systems are discussed. © 2006 Optical Society of America.