Resolution and response-time dependence of ferroelectric liquid-crystal optically addressed spatial light modulators on grating profiles

We introduce a model to analyze the time response of an optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) when a two-dimensional image is written on it. Comparison with experimental results is performed by use of gratings as input images. For a given spatial frequency, we show that the response time of the device depends on the grating profile. The effect of the time-constant mechanism is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally for a sinusoidal-wave and a square-wave intensity profile. An alternative explanation for the resolution limitation of the OASLM that is related to the time-constant mechanism and a new method for measuring the resolution of the device are proposed. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.