Reconfigurable Infrared Spectral Imaging with Robust Phase Change Materials

摘要

A spatial light modulator (SLM) is a key device that enables a coded aperture imaging technique to extract spectralsignature for remote detection and identification without platform motion. The SLMs offer a way to carry out spectralimaging with reconfigurability, which allows signature detection against a spectrally cluttered background. Liquidcrystaldisplay (LCD) arrays and digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) are used to implement the spatial lightmodulators, and there are shortcomings in infrared (IR) applications. Here, we report on a new solid-state SLMmodulator device operating in the infrared range with SbTe-based phase change material. The SLM leverages a dramaticchange (>2) in refractive index of SbTe phase change material within most of the IR bands, depending on their phase(amorphous versus crystalline).