Boulder Nonlinear Systems

Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) is a specialized photonics company that designs and manufactures advanced liquid crystal-based optical devices for the life sciences and defense industries. The company is best known for its high-performance spatial light modulators (SLMs), which are critical components in multi-photon microscopy and optogenetics research. These technologies allow scientists to precisely manipulate light to stimulate specific neurons or image biological processes in three dimensions at high speeds. Beyond microscopy, BNS provides solutions for beam steering, adaptive optics, and polarization control. Based in Colorado, the company operates as a private entity and has been a frequent recipient of federal research grants to advance optical innovation.