Imaging via spatial light modulation at photon-counting light levels

Author

Hunt, J.H. ; Holmes, R.B. ; McCormick, F.B.

Author_Institution

Rocketdyne Div., Rockwell Int. Corp., Canoga Park, CA, USA

fYear

1996

fDate

2-7 June 1996

Firstpage

519

Abstract

Summary form only given. In summary when an incoming photon is absorbed by the avalanche photodiode (APD) under applied voltage, a localized avalanche of charge carriers is created. The electron avalanche causes localized heating, which alters the local optical properties (index of refraction) of the diode, allowing it to act as a spatial light modulator. Amplitude modulation may be easily achieved by using the front and backsurfaces of the APD to form a Fabry Perot interferometer. This thermo-optic modulation is observed even when a single photon initiates the response.

Keywords

Fabry-Perot interferometers; avalanche photodiodes; optical images; optical modulation; photon counting; reflectivity; refractive index; spatial light modulators; thermo-optical effects; Fabry Perot interferometer; amplitude modulation; applied voltage; avalanche photodiode; backsurfaces; electron avalanche; front surfaces; incoming photon absorbtion; index of refraction; local optical properties; localized charge carrier avalanche; localized heating; photon-counting light levels; single photon; spatial light modulation imaging; spatial light modulator; thermo-optic modulation; Avalanche photodiodes; Charge carriers; Diodes; Electron optics; Heating; Optical imaging; Optical interferometry; Optical modulation; Optical refraction; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 1996. CLEO '96., Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on

Conference_Location

Anaheim, CA, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-443-2

Type

conf

Filename

865002