A spatial light modulator using BSO crystals

Abstract

The combined use of the photoelectric and electro-optic properties of the Bi12SiO20 (BSO)-crystal leads to a new possibility of realizing a spatial light modulator. Under certain geometrical conditions, which will be discussed, it is possible to realize, that the BSO-crystal becomes birefringent depending on the local illuminance; the physical connection between the distributions of birefringence and illuminance will be shown. The BSO-crystal combined with a polarizer setup works as a spatial light modulator or as an incoherent to coherent converter.