Open AccessA finite element beam propagation method for simulation of liquid crystal devices
Author(s) -
Pieter Vanbrabant,
Jeroen Beeckman,
Kristiaan Neyts,
Richard James,
FA Fernández
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.010895
Subject(s) - optics , beam propagation method , diffraction , refractive index , finite element method , wave propagation , beam (structure) , materials science , liquid crystal , plane wave , permittivity , physics , dielectric , optoelectronics , thermodynamics
An efficient full-vectorial finite element beam propagation method is presented that uses higher order vector elements to calculate the wide angle propagation of an optical field through inhomogeneous, anisotropic optical materials such as liquid crystals. The full dielectric permittivity tensor is considered in solving Maxwell's equations. The wide applicability of the method is illustrated with different examples: the propagation of a laser beam in a uniaxial medium, the tunability of a directional coupler based on liquid crystals and the near-field diffraction of a plane wave in a structure containing micrometer scale variations in the transverse refractive index, similar to the pixels of a spatial light modulator.