Holographic image reconstruction by magneto-optical light modulation device array

We have been developing a magneto-optical (MO) spatial light modulator (SLM) with a narrow pixel pitch which enables reproducing holographic three-dimensional (3D) images with wide-viewing angle. In this study, we investigated a light modulation performance for reproducing holographic 3D image of an MO light modulation device array. The light modulation device array can easily realize a magnetic interference fringe pattern by applying an external magnetic field without a transistor (i.e. without fabricating the real MO-SLM). The pattern, however, is not rewritable. The array was designed with a pitch of 1 × 2 μm. When a reproducing illumination light was incident to the device, a holographic 3D image with wide-viewing angle of 36° in the horizontal direction and 18° in the vertical direction was reproduced. A clear holographic image was observed through an analyzer because the phase of the unnecessary diffracted light, generated by the pixel structure, shifts by 90° from that of the magnetically diffracted component by the MO effect. If the light modulation device array is fabricated on the transistor backplane, any magnetization pattern can be realized by injecting a current. The MO-SLM was shown as an effective device for realizing a holographic display with a wide-viewing angle.