Optically addressed high-resolution liquid crystal spatial light modulator with a diffraction efficiency above 50%

An optically addressed liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) with a photosensitive amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide ($a$-SiC:H) layer has been studied using holographic techniques. The maximum diffraction efficiency (DE) of the device amounted to $\eta_{\mathrm{max}}$ = 50.5%. A decrease in the DE to a level of 0.5$\eta_{\mathrm{max}}$ was observed at a spatial frequency of 75 mm$^{-1}$. The high resolution and DE of the proposed SLM are due to features in the formation of an asymmetric grating line profile in the given structure.