Liquid Crystal Switch for Optical Waveguide.
Abstract
This patent application combines liquid crystals with an optical waveguide in order to couple coherent light out of and into the waveguide. The liquid crystal is one of the substances adjacent the waveguide and normally has an index of refraction less than that of the waveguide section. The liquid crystal must be highly aligned to insure guiding. The nature of the alignment i.e., homotropic or homogeneous will affect the index of refraction presented to the incoming coherent light and thus determine whether wave guiding is possible and the number of modes that can be supported. An applied electric field changes the index of refraction of the liquid crystal approximately that of the waveguide, therefore, light may be coupled into or out of the waveguide through the area of the liquid crystal in which the index of refraction has been changed. This effect can be used as an on-off switch but not as a mode selector, since no modes can be supported in the dynamically scattering liquid crystal media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 02, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADD001971
Entities
People
- Joel M. Schnur
- Thomas G. Giallorenzi
Organizations
- United States Department of the Navy