Silicon backplane ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator for uses within an optical telecommunications environment

International audienceLiquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) devices are ideal for uses as miniature light modulating elements. They can replace either transmissive LC (TFT) micro-displays or micro-mechanical MEMS and have been extensively used in display applications. Pioneering works have proposed adapting them to implement optical communication functions such as optical spatial switches. For the first time to our knowledge, a industrial LCOS device has been specifically adapted for telecommunications uses only on a pre-industrial level. We discuss here the relevant specifications and present the optical performance of this preliminary "telco" LCOS prototype. The device is a silicon backplane SXGA ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator operating in the 1.5 μ m telecom wavelength range. It is used as the beam steering core of an optical free-space switch whose optical and system test results are also presented