EXULUS-HD1 & EXULUS-4K1 Spatial Light Modulators
Chapter 3: Description
Rev I, October 18, 2022
Page 3
Chapter 3
Description
This User Manual is written for the users to install and operate the Thorlabs EXULUS-HD1 and EXULUS-4K1 2D
Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs). To ensure correct usage, read this manual carefully before operating your
EXULUS
®
SLM.
3.1.
Overview
The Thorlabs EXULUS SLM is based on reflective Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology. It offers individually
addressable pixels of phase shift or retardance, and provides large phase stroke and excellent phase stability.
Therefore the EXULUS is perfect for many beam manipulation applications including optical trapping, beam steering
and shaping, femtosecond pulse shaping, adaptive optics, imaging applications, holography, and others.
3.2.
Principle
– Liquid Crystal on Silicon
The Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology is a reflective retarder panel using a liquid crystal layer sandwiched
between the top transparent and conductive ITO layer, and the reflective coating layer which is arranged on the
bottom electrode layer. On the electrode layer, pixels are arranged as individual addressable aluminum electrodes.
Together with the ITO layer on top, an electric field is built by applying a voltage between the two electrodes. The
liquid crystal modules align according to the direction and strength of the electric field. Since liquid crystal is a
birefringent material, the alignment of the liquid crystal modules in turn controls the retardance or phase shift of
each pixel.
Figure 1
Schematic of Liquid Crystal on Silicon
3.3.
Parts List - Accessories
The EXULUS SLM is thoroughly tested and carefully packed at the factory. The complete package consists of a
main SLM unit (with removable dust cover) and the following standard accessories:
•
Main SLM Unit Power Adapter
•
USB Cable
•
HDMI*-Compatible Cable
•
HDMI-Compatible to DP*-Compatible Cable
•
USB Drive with software and Manual
•
Hex Key Thumbscrew
*Note:
HDMI is a trademark or registered trademark of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. DisplayPort is a
trademark owned by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in the United States and other countries.
The use of such trademarks by Thorlabs does not constitute or imply any affiliation with or sponsorship, approval,
certification, or endorsement by their respective trademark owners of Thorlabs or any Thorlabs products. All
references by Thorlabs to such trademarks are for identification purposes only.
