Multifunctional Metasurface Tuning by Liquid Crystals in Three Dimensions

Izdebskaya, Yana V.; Yang, Ziwei; Shvedov, Vladlen G.; Neshev, Dragomir N.; Shadrivov, Ilya V.

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02595

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, FNLCs can self-assemble in a variety of complex topological structures, which are expected to emit photon pairs in complex, spatially varying beams (structured light), such as vector and vortex beams 40 . The liquid nature of FNLCs opens a path to their integration with existing optical platforms such as fibres 41 , waveguides 42 and metasurfaces 43 .…”

Section: Engineering Photon Pairs Via the Sample Geometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tunable entangled photon-pair generation in a liquid crystal

Sultanov,

Kavčič,

Kokkinakis

et al. 2024

Nature

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Liquid crystals, with their ability to self-assemble, strong response to an electric field and integrability into complex systems, are key materials in light-beam manipulation1. The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals2,3 also have considerable second-order optical nonlinearity, making them a potential material for nonlinear optics4,5. Their use as sources of quantum light could considerably extend the boundaries of photonic quantum technologies6. However, spontaneous parametric down-conversion, the basic source of entangled photons7, heralded single photons8 and squeezed light9, has so far not been observed in liquid crystals—or in any liquids or organic materials. Here we implement spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal and demonstrate electric-field tunable broadband generation of entangled photons, with an efficiency comparable to that of the best nonlinear crystals. The emission rate and polarization state of photon pairs is markedly varied by applying a few volts or twisting the molecular orientation along the sample. A liquid-crystal source enables a special type of quasi-phase matching10, which is based on the molecular twist structure and is therefore reconfigurable for the desired spectral and polarization properties of photon pairs. Such sources promise to outperform standard nonlinear optical materials in terms of functionality, brightness and the tunability of the generated quantum state. The concepts developed here can be extended to complex topological structures, macroscopic devices and multi-pixel tunable quantum light sources.

show abstract

Section: Engineering Photon Pairs Via the Sample Geometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tunable entangled photon-pair generation in a liquid crystal

Sultanov,

Kavčič,

Kokkinakis

et al. 2024

Nature

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While previous studies, such as the one by Izdebskaya et al have explored liquid crystal manipulation on multifunctional metasurface tuning without alignment layers and controlling liquid crystal director orientation by rotating the direction of an applied external magnetic field 10 . However, this magnetic alignment primarily tunes the optical properties of a layer above the metasurface in three-dimensional space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electro-hydrodynamic programming reshapes liquid crystal dynamics in free-form director fields

Ghorapade,

Wang

2024

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study unveils a groundbreaking technique leveraging the superposition of electric field vectors to manipulate liquid crystals (LCs). Demonstrated through a simple configuration of four independent electrodes at the corners of a rectangular enclosure, notably, this configuration can be further simplified or modified as needed, showcasing the versatility of the approach. Significantly, the design showcased in the paper eliminates the need for an alignment layer, highlighting the versatility of the method. Through nuanced adjustments in waveforms, amplitudes, frequencies, and phases in AC or DC from these electrodes, precise control over LC shape deformation and dynamic phase transformation is achieved in both temporal and spatial dimensions. In contrast to traditional methods, the approach presented here abolishes alignment layers and intricate electrode-array systems, opting for a streamlined configuration with varying AC frequencies and DC electric signals. This innovative methodology, founded on simplified governing equations from Q-tensor hydrodynamics theory, demonstrates true 3D control over LCs, displaying efficiency in electrode usage beyond current arrays. The study's contributions extend to temporal control emphasis, superposition techniques, and the elimination of fixed electrodes, promising unprecedented possibilities for programming LC materials and advancing the field of programmable LC devices.

show abstract

“…Achieving a broader tuning range can be also difficult for such devices due to their typical low expansion coefficient [34]. Alternatively, many works achieved tuning in the order of 10 2 nm by exploring QBIC resonances [35][36][37]; however, they employed phase change materials and liquid crystals. To the best of our knowledge, optically active WGM Si-based devices have been achieved using azobenzene monolayers [33] with a maximum 4 nm blueshift.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Optical Tuning of Azopolymeric Whispering Gallery Mode Microresonators for Filter Applications

Jorge,

Couto,

Almeida

et al. 2024

Photonics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Light confinement provided by whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonators is especially useful for integrated photonic circuits. In particular, the tunability of such devices has gained increased attention for active filtering and lasering applications. Traditional lithographic approaches for fabricating such devices, especially Si-based ones, often restrict the device’s tuning due to the material’s inherent properties. Two-photon polymerization (2PP) has emerged as an alternative fabrication technique of sub-diffraction resolution 3D structures, in which compounds can be incorporated to further expand their applications, such as enabling active devices. Here, we exploited the advantageous characteristics of polymer-based devices and produced, via 2PP, acrylic-based WGM hollow microcylinders incorporated with the azoaromatic chromophore Disperse Red 13 (DR13). Within telecommunication range, we demonstrated the tuning of the microresonator’s modes by external irradiation within the dye’s absorption peak (at 514 nm), actively inducing a blueshift at a rate of 1.2 nm/(Wcm−2). Its thermo-optical properties were also investigated through direct heating, and the compatibility of both natural phenomena was also confirmed by finite element simulations. Such results further expand the applicability of polymeric microresonators in optical and photonic devices since optically active filtering was exhibited.

show abstract

Multifunctional Metasurface Tuning by Liquid Crystals in Three Dimensions

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

Tunable entangled photon-pair generation in a liquid crystal

Tunable entangled photon-pair generation in a liquid crystal

Electro-hydrodynamic programming reshapes liquid crystal dynamics in free-form director fields

Active Optical Tuning of Azopolymeric Whispering Gallery Mode Microresonators for Filter Applications

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About