Technologies for Modulation of Visible and Near-UV Light and their Applications

Control over the amplitude, phase, and spatial distribution of visible-spectrum light underlies many technologies, but commercial solutions remain bulky and require high control power. Recent materials and fabrication advances have spurred interest in visible-light integrated photonics. In this review, we discuss three application spaces which rely on control of visible light - quantum control and measurement of neutral atom and trapped-ion atomic systems, augmented-reality displays, and measurement and control of biological systems. We then review the commercial dynamic surfaces and bulk systems which currently provide visible-light modulation before discussing the current state-of-the-art integrated solutions. Throughout the review we focus on speed, control power, size, optical bandwidth, and technological maturity when comparing technologies.