Elastomer-based diffractive optical modulator

In this paper, device structure and measurements on a diffractive optical modulator fabricated using a elastomer layer are reported. The device structure is fairly simple with an interdigitated bottom electrode, an elastomer layer, and a top electrode. Application of voltage to one of the bottom interdigitated electrodes causes an electrostrictive force, which, in turn, corrugates the elastomer layer. This method is used to create a configurable reflective phase grating that enables an analog control of the diffracted intensity. The major advantages of this method are the ease of fabrication and the simple device structure.