Modelling, design and analysis of liquid crystal waveguides in preferentially etched silicon grooves

Abstract

This paper presents a fully consistent theoretical framework for liquid crystal (LC) channel waveguides that have been experimentally demonstrated in previous publications. We revise the optical design of the LC waveguides in silicon grooves and implement here a vectorial, fully consistent model of the LC waveguide electro-optical behaviour, based on the finite element method. The numerical investigation shows that LC waveguides demonstrate properties of propagation control and switching. They switch on and off with a low applied voltage. We discuss the major design parameters of the device and the effect of loss-inducing control electrodes.

Plasmon resonance optical tuning based on photosensitive composite structures

“…We use the finite element method implemented in a commercial solver [28,29]. The free energy of the MR:E7 mixture takes into account the elastic energy of the LC and the molecular reorientation induced by the deformation of the exposed MR [30],…”

All-Optical Liquid Crystal Waveguide on Silicon

“…The nonlinear behaviour of the LCW is modelled by considering both the electrically [20] and optically induced molecular reorientation. A bias applied voltage is used to induce a LC pretilt over the Freedericksz threshold.…”

Tuning silicon-on-insulator ring resonators with in-plane switching liquid crystals

“…We also see that the image is bright at the left and right side of the ring. On a structured surface like our chip, the LC director will orient itself in such a manner that the energy is at a minimum [9][10][11][12]. The director will strive for an orientation parallel to the surface but also to the vertical sidewalls.…”