https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202430907001
Thermo-optical liquid-crystal phase modulator for ultrafast optics, driven by neural network
1 Université Cote d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Physique de Nice, Nice, France
2 Fastlite, Antibes, France
* e-mail: aurelie.jullien@inphyni.cnrs.fr
Published online: 31 October 2024
We propose a new spatial light modulator (SLM) concept, relying on a local thermal modification of a thick liquid crystal layer, that is optically-induced through the absorption of a control beam. This innovative thermo-optically addressed SLM, coined TOA-SLM, has shown dynamic phase control capabilities over multi-octave light spectrum, as a promising candidate for spatial or temporal manipulation of ultrafast pulses. In addition to being ultra-broadband and programmable, such a device is low-cost, large-aperture and un-segmented with a high number of control points. The construction and training of a neural network-based statistical model provides configurable design of a prototype TOA-SLM. This step, together with the ultra-broadband acceptance of the device and its ability to introduce continuous and deep phase modulation over a large aperture, opens the way for ultrafast laser aberration compensation using this new technology.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
