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Molding Optical Waveguides with Nematicons
Author(s) -
Karimi Nazanin,
Virkki Matti,
Alberucci Alessandro,
Buchnev Oleksandr,
Kauranen Martti,
Priimagi Arri,
Assanto Gaetano
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced optical materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 2195-1071
DOI - 10.1002/adom.201700199
Subject(s) - materials science , photonics , molding (decorative) , optics , signal (programming language) , polymer , optoelectronics , liquid crystal , soliton , beam (structure) , optical fiber , wavelength , waveguide , nonlinear system , composite material , physics , computer science , quantum mechanics , programming language
Optical waveguides are usually fabricated by top‐down methods. Hereby, this study demonstrates a bottom‐up approach based on nonlinear optics in reorientational nematic liquid crystals with polymerizable materials. Near‐infrared optical spatial solitons—nematicons—in conjunction with UV exposure are employed in order to achieve (i) real‐time signal waveguiding for point‐to‐point beam‐induced interconnects by effectively quenching the fluctuations of nematicon trajectories through polymer stabilization; (ii) the molding of permanent channel waveguides in a crosslinked polymer network, so that they persist after turning off the soliton beam and confine signals of various wavelengths and intensities. These findings introduce a novel, highly versatile platform and a wealth of possibilities for guided‐wave photonics, signal addressing, and processing in liquid crystalline soft matter.