Light Modulation by Applying High Electric Fields in Double-Insulated ZnS and ZnSe Polycrystalline Films

Abstract
Absorption-edge shifts produced by applying electric fields (Franz-Keldysh) in ZnS and ZnSe polycrystalline films have been studied for investigating their application to spatial light modulators. The ZnS and ZnSe polycrystalline films are sandwiched between the insulating layers so that high electric fields of up to about 106 V/cm can be applied to the films. As a result, the adsorption edge is shifted by about 3 nm toward longer wavelength and a light modulation degree of 45% is obtained.