A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light. The modulator includes a
plurality of elements, each element including a first end, a second end, a first
non-linear side, a second non-linear side, and a light reflective planar surface.
The light reflective planar surfaces of the plurality of elements lie in one or
more parallel planes. The elements are preferably arranged parallel to each other.
The modulator also includes a support structure to maintain a position of each
element relative to each other and to enable movement of selective ones of the
plurality of elements in a direction normal to the one or more parallel planes
of the plurality of elements. The plurality of elements are preferably moved between
a first modulator configuration wherein the plurality of elements act to reflect
the incident beam of light as a plane mirror, and a second modulator configuration
wherein the plurality of elements act to diffract the incident beam of light. The
non-linear sides substantially reduce the polarization dependent losses for diffraction
from the plurality of elements.
