Spatial light modulator having a capacitively coupled photoconductor

Claim 1

A spatial light modulator comprising: a semiconductor element comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface, a first transparent metallic electrode, a dielectric layer disposed between said first surface of said semiconductor substrate and a surface of said first transparent metallic electrode, and a charge-confining microgroove lattice structure formed in said second surface of said semiconductor substrate; a dielectric mirror having a first surface and an opposed second surface, said first surface of said dielectric mirror being adjacent said second surface of said semiconductor substrate; an electro-optic crystal having a first surface and an opposed second surface, said first surface of said electro-optic crystal being adjacent said second surface of said dielectric mirror; a second transparent electrode having a first surface and an opposed second surface, said first surface of said second transparent electrode being adjacent said second surface of said electro-optic crystal; and means for applying a voltage pulse between said first transparent electrode and said second transparent electrode.