Liquid crystal devices for optical communication systems

Author

Chigrinov, V.G. ; Pozhidaev, E.P. ; Yakovlev, D.A. ; Kwok, H.S.

Author_Institution

Hong Kong Univ. of Sci. & Technol., Kowloon, China

fYear

2003

fDate

12-14 Sept. 2003

Firstpage

204

Lastpage

207

Abstract

Liquid crystals (LCs) prove to be the basic material for various applications in electronic imaging and displays as well as optoelectronics. We will review the following LC optoelectronic devices for optical communication systems. 1. Fast reliable low power optical switches. We shall demonstrate the new possible configurations of the fast LC shutters for fiber-optical system, based on (i) STN-LCD cell and (ii) fast deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHF-FLC) mode. 2. Passive elements of optical communication systems. The software for optimization of the LC light modulation characteristics has been developed. The new photo-aligning technology for efficient LC applications in optical communication systems has been made. 3. Passive fiber optical elements based on photonic crystals (PCs) and liquid crystals (LCs). A method for the formation of controllable PCf/C structures, based on multiple-redrawing technique, applied for different types of glass, filled with photo-aligned LC is discussed.

Keywords

electro-optical devices; ferroelectric liquid crystals; integrated optoelectronics; liquid crystal devices; optical communication equipment; optical elements; optical fibre communication; optical modulation; optical switches; photonic crystals; reviews; DHF-FLC; LC light modulation; LC shutters; STN-LCD cell; controllable PC/LC structures; deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal; fiber-optical system; liquid crystal devices; multiple-redrawing; optical communication systems; optical switches; optoelectronics; photo-alignment; photonic crystals; review; Crystalline materials; Liquid crystal devices; Liquid crystal displays; Liquid crystals; Optical fiber communication; Optical imaging; Optical materials; Optical modulation; Optoelectronic devices; Photonic crystal fibers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Optoelectronics, Proceedings of the Sixth Chinese Symposium

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7887-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/COS.2003.1278203

Filename

1278203