Open AccessWide tuning of SiN microring resonators by auto-realigning nematic liquid crystal
Author(s) -
Tzyy-Jiann Wang,
Shun-Chen Yang,
Tien-Jung Chen,
BoYu Chen
Publication year - 2012
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.20.015853
Subject(s) - liquid crystal , resonator , cladding (metalworking) , materials science , optics , wavelength , electric field , refractive index , polarization (electrochemistry) , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We present wide electrical tuning of microring resonators with auto-realigned nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cladding. By applying electric field, homeotropically-aligned negative Δε NLC with non-rubbed alignment layers is auto-realigned along the microring waveguide due to the protruding of the ridge structure. The consistent cladding index distribution along the microring waveguide produces effective tuning of the resonant wavelength. It achieves a large tuning range of 13nm for TM mode and 2.1nm for TE mode. The NLC reorientation characteristics are investigated by minimizing Oseen-Frank energy. The proposed microring resonator owns the features of large tuning range and bi-polarization wavelength tuning.