Open AccessAll-organic switching polarizer based on polymer waveguides and liquid crystals
Author(s) -
Manuel CañoGarcía,
Ahmed Elmogi,
Marie-Aline Mattelin,
Jeroen Missinne,
Morten Andreas Geday,
J. M. Otón,
Geert Van Steenberge,
Xabier Quintana
Publication year - 2018
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.26.009584
Subject(s) - polarizer , materials science , extinction ratio , optics , lithography , optoelectronics , fabrication , waveguide , liquid crystal , polarization (electrochemistry) , beam splitter , photonic integrated circuit , nanoimprint lithography , insertion loss , photonics , laser , wavelength , birefringence , chemistry , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , medicine
This paper reports on the design, fabrication and characterization of an all-organic photonic integrated circuit working as a switching polarizer for visible light (630nm), combining organic waveguides and liquid crystals that can be electrically driven. The device was made in commercially available epoxy by laser direct writing lithography. A device with a 2dB loss and a 20dB extinction ratio for both polarizations, was simulated; the manufactured devices proved the working principle of the design. The results have led to the design of a switching polarization splitter, in which a careful choice of waveguide material and liquid crystal can lead to devices working on a wide range of wavelengths.