Non-pixelated quantum well diode diffraction modulators

Electroabsorption modulators are typically reticulated into NxN pixel arrays with N/sup 2/ electrical leads. Extension to broad-area arrays becomes technically and economically prohibitive. We show that the multiple contacts can be replaced by two electrodes and dynamic holography by operating multiple-quantum-well (MQW) diodes as holographic thin films with no photolithographic reticulation necessary. The key to this performance is the recent discovery of sharp excitons in low-temperature-growth (LTG) MQWs. The LTG layers isolate adjacent pixels, thus eliminating the need for elaborate post-growth photolithography.