Amplitude, Phase, and Hybrid Ternary Modulation Modes of a Twisted-Nematic Liquid-Crystal Display at ~400 nm

Applicability of a commercial twisted-nematic liquid-crystal display is examined at ~400 nm. Different modulation modes predicted by Jones-matrix calculus are experimentally tested. High contrast amplitude modulation with negligible loss, high contrast and low loss hybrid ternary modulation, and 1.5 (pi) continuous phase delay without intensity modulation and with low loss are presented. Simulation results of a 4f holographic system prove the usefulness of the high contrast for amplitude modulation, and the importance of (pi) phase difference between high transmission white levels in a hybrid ternary modulation.