Microwave optimized liquid crystals for space and terrestrial communication

Abstract

Driven by the need for new low-cost data communication technologies, liquid crystals are used not only by the display industry but also by companies in the satellite and telecommunications area. Recent developments in liquid crystal mixtures for tunable microwave components have led to material classes with substantially increased performance. High performance materials provide a high tunability with low associated dielectric losses meeting requirements of commercial applications. This presentation gives an overview about the state-of-the-art in liquid crystal materials for microwave applications, future development targets as well as emerging fields of applications.