SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR AND SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATION METHOD

摘要

Disclosed is a spatial light modulator having a long life whose light modulation characteristics do not deteriorate even when an extremely short-pulsed high-power laser beam is used as the modulation driving light. Such a spatial light modulator has a quick response speed when a light having a wavelength of 1.55 mum or the like is used. The spatial light modulator is characterized in that a low refractive-index layer (4) which is composed of a transparent material having a refractive index lower than that of a prism (2) is interposed between the prism (2) and an optically functional material layer (3) which is composed of an optically functional material whose complex refractive index varies when irradiated with light, and a carbon nanotube is used as the optically functional material.