A new liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) is presented using bulk monocrystalline Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ (BSO) as both the photoconductive material and as one of the substrates supporting the liquid crystal layer. The photo-conductive properties of the BSO under ac voltages are investigated. The device operates at room temperature with a low ac drive voltage (25-V ac at 500 Hz). These specific properties are explained from the aspect of an equivalent electrical circuit of the structure. A prototype BSO LCLV with a 15-μm liquid crystal thickness shows a 10-lp mm^-1 spatial resolution. The device coherent modulation transfer function was measured experimentally and found to agree with theory. Typical writing energies are ~20 µJ cm^-2 at wavelength λ = 450 nm.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

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