Surface-emitting electroholographic SAW modulator

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel surface-emitting SAW acousto-optical modulator that acts as a linear hologram, enabling advanced holographic display applications through integrated lithographic fabrication.

Contribution

It presents the first monolithically-integrated, surface-emitting SAW modulator fabricated with lithography, demonstrating hologram loading and operation on a lithium niobate substrate.

Findings

Successful loading of a 9-region linear hologram

Operation at 280-320 MHz frequency range

First demonstration of a surface-emitting SAW modulator with lithographic fabrication

Abstract

We report the design and operation of a surface-emitting surface acoustic wave (SAW) acousto-optical modulator which behaves as a cm-scale linear hologram in response to an applied electronic waveform. The modulator is formed by an optical waveguide, transducer, and out-coupling surface grating on a 1 mm-thick lithium niobate substrate. We demonstrate the ability to load and illuminate a 9-region linear hologram into the modulator's 8 mm-long interaction region using applied waveforms of 280-320 MHz. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a monolithically-integrated, surface-emitting SAW modulator fabricated using lithographic techniques. Applications include practical implementations of a holographic display.