This thesis improves on the design of the leaky-mode spatial light modulator, LMW-SLM, presented by Dr. Smalley[1]. Improvements include: input coupling gratings, a pulsed laser input, output coupling gratings, and a 3D printed adjustable module for the stabilization of critical alignments. First, input coupling gratings reduce the cost of the LMW-SLM from $500 to around $2, a drop in cost of over two orders of magnitude. This enables multiple modulators to be used in a single display and allows for an inexpensive modular design to be created. Second, a pulsed laser input allows for image creation without the use of a polygon for derotation. Removal of the polygon allows for direct viewing of the LMW-SLM output enabling near-eye and flat panel displays. Third, output coupling gratings allow for bottom exit devices that are essential for thin substrates and flat panel displays. Fourth, the 3D printed module allows for the critical alignments of the LMW-SLM to become permanent. This in turns allows for transportation of the created displays without a trained technician by abstracting away the complexities of the device. The resulting changes simplify hardware, reduce cost, and enable the LMW-SLM to be modularized and the resulting 3D displays to be transportable. These improvements are made possible by the addition of a one new mask step during fabrication, a simple circuit design, and a 3D printed module designed in SOLIDWORKS. Included in this thesis as attachments are the MATLab, Eagle, and SOLIDWORKS files used to create the improved LMW-SLM.

The research presented in this dissertation focuses on improvements made to lithium niobate leaky-mode modulators for both holographic video and optogenetic applications. The specific improvements found herein are: (1) characterization of leaky-mode modulators to decrease driver bandwidth to match that of commodity graphics processing units, (2) the implementation of surface relief gratings as input couplers to replace rutile prism coupling, (3) the addition of backside surface relief gratings to create an orthogonal output face for the leaky-mode modulator, and (4) the creation of superimposed surface relief gratings in lithium niobate to enable multiple wavelength coupling at a single input angle. These advancements for leaky-mode modulators open avenues in display technologies and optogenetics. As a display technology, the leaky-mode modulator can not only be used more effectively in holographic monitors, but can stand alone as a transparent near-eye display. In regards to optogenetics, these technologies allow for the creation of a highly advanced light delivery method, with multiple illumination angles through non-mechanical steering, a large output area to probe size ratio, and support for simultaneous multiple wavelength output in both common and disparate locations.

Virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays provide a high definition, immersive experi-ence to the viewer. However, most existing technologies have flaws like bulky design and vergence-accommodation conflict that may cause stress in the neck muscles, posture issues, nausea, motion sickness and dizziness. Similarly, augmented reality (AR) displays, which use transparent light modulators, exist, but they possess low field of view and a limited number of discrete depth planes when wide field of view and continuous depth would be ideal. The ultimate goal of my research is use leaky mode waveguide devices to create wide-view angle, transparent near eye holographic displays for AR with strong continuous depth accommo-dation and no vergence-accommodation conflict. The leaky mode platform has the advantages of low fabrication complexity and monolithic design. Unfortunately, bottom-exit leaky mode devices to date have had produced relatively small view angles. The specific objective of this thesis is to explore the use of static structures in leaky mode waveguide devices to increase field of view. In this work I will show that it is theoretically possible to achieve increased field of view with increased resolution and no overlap among view zones. My specific contributions to this research include: i) modeling of integrated Lithium Nio-bate device and testrig that contains quartz substrates on MATLAB, ii) construction of a simulator of the integrated device which involved fabrication of a prototype test rig for intermediate laser induced structures, iii) fabrication of intermediate diffractive structures by photolithography and by femto-second laser ablation which involved - 100 sample test, dose test and creation of sample femtograting on Lithium Niobate substrate. Results which are obtained from the modelling of inte-grated device and the prototype simulator are analysed. This analysis is provided in my manuscript to show how precise is the prototype simulator when compared with integrated device. The ob-tained result of the integrated device is 52.4541° where as it is 69.113° for prototype simulator. This effort was reported in a publication and presentation at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Film display holograms typically diffract light over a wide enough view-angle to be viewed, directly, without intervening optics. However, all holographic video displays must use optics beyond the hologram surface to overcome the challenges of small display extent and low diffraction angle by using some form of demagnification and derotation. We report a leaky mode waveguide spatial light modulator (SLM) with sufficiently high angular diffraction to obviate the need for demagnification in scanned aperture systems. This was achieved by performing a number of experiments to determine the depth of the annealed, proton-exchanged waveguide which corresponded to a maximized diffracted angle. Diffraction sweeps were recorded in excess of 19.5° for 632.8 nm light which is above the 15° required for direct view display. Moreover, we present a paired set of waveguide SLMs capable of a maximum light deflection nearing 28° for red. This deflection, which is several times larger than the angular sweep of current, state-of-the-art modulators, is made possible by the unilateral, near-collinear waveguide nature of the leaky mode interaction. The ability to double angular output in this way, which is either not possible or not practical in other SLMs, is possible in leaky mode devices, thanks to the absence of zero-order light and the lack of high-order outputs. This combined structure has angular deflection high enough to enable color holographic video monitors that do not require angular magnification. Furthermore, the low cost and high angular deflection of these devices may make it possible to make large arrays for flat-screen video holography. One improvement that could be made to the current setup would be to increase the device's diffraction efficiency. One highly influential factor of diffraction efficiency for a Bragg-regime surface acoustic wave (SAW) grating is the length of the interaction between the light and the grating. In this work, we have shown that guided light in a reverse proton exchanged (RPE) waveguide experiences less loss. This enables us to create longer devices which eventually results in devices with higher diffraction efficiency. We have also researched on LCoS SLMs and used them for two different applications: (a) photophoretic-trap volumetric displays and (b) holographic video displays. In the first case, aberrations including spherical, astigmatism, and coma can make particles to trap tighter in the focal point of the beam. Also, a new approach for holographic computations is presented which uses the electromagnetic nature of light in Maxwell Equations to find a unique phase map for every specific 3D object in space.

Film display holograms typically diffract light over a wide enough view-angle to be viewed, directly, without intervening optics. However, all holographic video displays must use optics beyond the hologram surface to overcome the challenges of small display extent and low diffraction angle by using some form of demagnification and derotation. We report a leaky mode waveg- uide spatial light modulator (SLM) with sufficiently high angular diffraction to obviate the need for demagnification in scanned aperture systems. This was achieved by performing a number of experiments to determine the depth of the annealed, proton-exchanged waveguide which corresponded to a maximized diffracted angle. Diffraction sweeps were recorded in excess of 19.5<°> for 632.8 nm light which is above the 15<°> required for direct view display.Moreover, we present a paired set of waveguide SLMs capable of a maximum light deflection nearing 28<°> for red. This deflection, which is several times larger than the angular sweep of current, state-of-the-art modulators, is made possible by the unilateral, near-collinear waveguide nature of the leaky mode interaction. The ability to double angular output in this way, which is either not possible or not practical in other SLMs, is possible in leaky mode devices, thanks to the absence of zero-order light and the lack of high-order outputs. This combined structure has angu- lar deflection high enough to enable color holographic video monitors that do not require angular magnification. Furthermore, the low cost and high angular deflection of these devices may make it possible to make large arrays for flat-screen video holography.One improvement that could be made to the current setup would be to increase the device<&trade>s diffraction efficiency. One highly influential factor of diffraction efficiency for a Bragg-regime surface acoustic wave (SAW) grating is the length of the interaction between the light and the grating. In this work, we have shown that guided light in a reverse proton exchanged (RPE) waveguide experiences less loss. This enables us to create longer devices which eventually results in devices with higher diffraction efficiency.We have also researched on LCoS SLMs and used them for two different applications: (a) photophoretic-trap volumetric displays and (b) holographic video displays. In the first case, aberrations including spherical, astigmatism, and coma can make particles to trap tighter in the focal point of the beam. Also, a new approach for holographic computations is presented which uses the electromagnetic nature of light in Maxwell Equations to find a unique phase map for every specific 3D object in space.

A major limitation of acousto-optic (AO) leaky-mode modulator based holographic displays is their inability to present full-parallax. We propose that full-parallax capabilities can be bestowed on these displays by integrating an electro-optic (EO) phased array into the architecture. We validated this concept by rendering computational models and by fabricating and testing a basic two-axis AO/EO deflector prototype in lithium niobate. This was, to our knowledge, the first instantiation of an integrated, hybrid AO/EO deflector. The prototype had a 6° deflection range along the AO-axis, and a 3° deflection range along the EO-axis. A series of models provide us with a clear path forward for optimizing this deflector. They suggest that an AO/EO modulator with an EO deflection range of 24.5° and that requires less than 7.5 V can be fabricated within the limitations of standard photolithography.

The "Mark V" Holographic Video Monitor ("HoloMonitor") is a continuation of effort and accomplishments to produce a low-cost device capable of reproducing true full-color horizontal-parallax-only computer-generated holograms at typical video frame-rates. While other devices around the world may have greater capabilities, these devices are currently confined to laboratory settings due to their sheer complexity and expense. The aim of this project is to provide researchers and "tinkerers" with a device capable of recreating holographic effects in full color, respectable resolution, in real time, and at a comparatively low cost. The "Mark V" HoloMonitor is a closer representation of a consumer product than any other device of the MIT/BYU series of HoloMonitors. In this thesis, I discuss the complete design and construction of all of the optic (sans modulator) electronic subsystems that compose this device, along with explaining and providing working code needed to drive it in various modes of operation. The main objective of this thesis is to sufficiently instruct undergraduate and graduate colleagues so that they can replicate and build upon this work.

De nombreux éléments de structures de génie civil sont élancés et partiellement enfouis dans un milieu solide. Les ondes guidées sont souvent utilisées pour le contrôle non destructif (CND) de ces éléments. Ces derniers sont alors considérés comme des guides d’ondes ouverts, dans lesquels la plupart des ondes sont atténuées par des fuites dans le milieu environnant. D’autre part le problème est non borné, ce qui le rend difficile à appréhender sur le plan numérique. La combinaison d’une approche par éléments finis semi-analytique (SAFE) et de la méthode des couches parfaitement adaptées (PML) a été utilisée dans une thèse antérieure pour calculer numériquement trois types de modes (modes piégés, modes à fuite et modes de PML). Seuls les modes piégés et à fuite sont utilisés pour la représentation des courbes de dispersion. Les modes de PML sont non intrinsèques à la physique. L’objectif premier de cette thèse est d’obtenir, par superposition modale sur les modes calculés, les champs émis et diffracté dans les guides d’ondes ouverts. Nous montrons dans un premier temps que les trois types de modes appartiennent à la base modale. Une relation d’orthogonalité est obtenue dans la section du guide(incluant la PML) pour garantir l’unicité des solutions. La réponse forcée du guide peut alors être calculée rapidement par une somme sur les modes en tout point du guide. Des superpositions modales sont également utilisées pour construire des frontières transparentes au bord d’un petit domaine élément fini incluant un défaut, permettant ainsi de calculer le champ diffracté. Au cours de ces travaux, nous étudions les conditions d’approximation des solutions par des superpositions modales, limitées seulement aux modes à fuite, ce qui permet de réduire le coût des calculs. De plus, la généralité des méthodes proposées est démontrée par des calculs hautes fréquences (intéressantes pour le CND) et sur des guides tridimensionnels. Le deuxième objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une méthode d’imagerie pour la localisation de défauts. La méthode de l’imagerie topologique est appliquée aux guides d’ondes. Le cadre théorique général, de type optimisation sous contrainte, est rappelé. Le formalisme modal permet un calcul rapide de l’image. Nous l’appliquons pour simuler un guide d’onde endommagé, et nous montrons l’influence du type de champ émis (monomodal, dispersif,multimodal) ainsi que des configurations de mesure sur la qualité de l’image obtenue. / Various elements of civil engineering structures are elongated and partially embedded in a solid medium. Guided waves can be used for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of such elements. The latteris therefore considered as an open waveguide, in which most of waves are attenuated by leakage losses into the surrounding medium. Furthermore, the problem is difficult to solve numerically because of its unboundedness. In aprevious thesis, it has been shown that the semi-analytical finite-element method (SAFE) and perfectly matched layers(PML) can be coupled for the numerical computation of modes. It yields three types of modes: trapped modes,leaky modes and PML modes. Only trapped and leaky modes are useful for the post-processing of dispersion curves. PML modes are non-intrinsic to the physics. The major aim of this thesis is to obtain the propagated and diffracted fields, based on modal superpositions on the numerical modes. First, we show that the three types of modes belong to the modal basis. To guarantee the uniqueness of the solutions an orthogonality relationship is derived on the section including the PML. The forced response can then be obtained very efficiently with a modal expansion at any point of the waveguide. Modal expansions are also used to build transparent boundaries at the cross-sections of a small finite-element domain enclosing a defect, thereby yielding the diffracted field. Throughout this work, we study whether solutions can be obtained with modal expansions on leaky modes only, which enables to reduce the computational cost. Besides, solutions are obtained at high frequencies (which are of interest for NDE) and in tridimensional waveguides, which demonstrates the generality of the methods. The second objective of this thesis is to propose an imaging method to locate defects. The topological imaging method is applied to a waveguide configuration. The general theoretical framework is recalled, based on constrained optimization theory. The image can be quickly computed thanks to the modal formalism. The case of a damaged waveguide is then simulated to assess the influence on image quality of the emitted field characteristics (monomodal, dispersive or multimodal)and of the measurement configuration.