BB-SLM | Polychromatic digital optics for structured light

Summary
The development of photonics technologies implies ever-increasing agile optical components operating enabling the manipulation of the spatial degrees of freedom of light over broad spectral ranges. To date, spatial light modulators is a class of digital optical devices offering versatile management of light, however, state-of-the-art devices are operating efficiently only at a given wavelength. Here we propose to develop a digitally controlled spatial light modulator combining efficiency with intrinsically broadband behavior spanning the whole visible spectrum. This will be accomplished by integrating the advantage of spin controlled achromatic geometric Berry phase with broadband polarization-dependent circular Bragg reflection from spatially modulated chiral liquid crystals. Despite more than a century-long history of liquid crystals, the first report on the accumulation of Berry phase due to Bragg reflection came only very recently from the research group lead by the host scientist. The proposed two-year project to develop spatial light-modulators based on this basic physical principle. By doing so, we aim at controlling the interaction between the polarization state of light with its spatial degrees of freedoms (i.e., the spin-orbit interaction of light) by exploiting the inherently robust and diverse topological structures that spontaneously appear in anisotropic soft condensed matter systems such as liquid crystals. In particular, we will take advantage of both the self-organization orientational processes occurring in liquid crystals and their extreme sensitivity to external fields. By implementing a recently demonstrated physical concepts into a novel generation of spin-orbit optical devices enabling spatial control of the optical phase over a broad spectral range, this project will offer further possible applications for advanced photonic technologies, for instance in optical data processing, optical imaging and optical manipulation.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/838199
Start date: 01-03-2020
End date: 28-02-2022
Total budget - Public funding: 196 707,84 Euro - 196 707,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The development of photonics technologies implies ever-increasing agile optical components operating enabling the manipulation of the spatial degrees of freedom of light over broad spectral ranges. To date, spatial light modulators is a class of digital optical devices offering versatile management of light, however, state-of-the-art devices are operating efficiently only at a given wavelength. Here we propose to develop a digitally controlled spatial light modulator combining efficiency with intrinsically broadband behavior spanning the whole visible spectrum. This will be accomplished by integrating the advantage of spin controlled achromatic geometric Berry phase with broadband polarization-dependent circular Bragg reflection from spatially modulated chiral liquid crystals. Despite more than a century-long history of liquid crystals, the first report on the accumulation of Berry phase due to Bragg reflection came only very recently from the research group lead by the host scientist. The proposed two-year project to develop spatial light-modulators based on this basic physical principle. By doing so, we aim at controlling the interaction between the polarization state of light with its spatial degrees of freedoms (i.e., the spin-orbit interaction of light) by exploiting the inherently robust and diverse topological structures that spontaneously appear in anisotropic soft condensed matter systems such as liquid crystals. In particular, we will take advantage of both the self-organization orientational processes occurring in liquid crystals and their extreme sensitivity to external fields. By implementing a recently demonstrated physical concepts into a novel generation of spin-orbit optical devices enabling spatial control of the optical phase over a broad spectral range, this project will offer further possible applications for advanced photonic technologies, for instance in optical data processing, optical imaging and optical manipulation.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2018

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
MSCA-IF-2018