Polarization and Phase Sensitive Optical Modulator Array

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9414557 Lu This proposal addresses the design and fabrication of polarization and phase sensitive normal incidence multiple quantum well light modulator array. The device is based on the anisotropic excitonic and concomitant light polarization rotation to achieve high contrast ratios. The anisotropic excitonic absorption and birefringence are created by the in-plane anisotropic strain in multiple quantum well structures. The modulator utilizes the quantum confined stark effect (QCSE) to electrically tune the phase retardation and polarization rotation. This proposal represents a two-year collaboration project between the Microelectronics Research Laboratory (MERL) at Rutgers University and the Electronics and Power Sources Directorate (EPSD) of the Army Research Laboratory. We Have been working closely at the preliminary stage of the project, and have demonstrated the single modulator device based on electrically tunable polarization rotation and phase retardation in uniaxially strained (100) MQW, which exhibits an exceedingly high contrast ratio of 5000:1. The proposed work will further develop the modulator array (at least 4x4) to demonstrate its capability as a spatial light modulator. The work at Rutgers will focus on processing development, structural characterization, and theoretical modeling. In addition, a graduate student from Rutgers will spend a majority of his time at EPSD, performing the optical studies for this project. The National Science Foundation's support will greatly enhance our joint efforts in this area. ***