Open AccessMagnetically tunable optical diffraction gratings based on a ferromagnetic liquid crystal
Author(s) -
Su Gao,
Mathias Fleisch,
R. A. Rupp,
Luka Cmok,
P. Medle-Rupnik,
Alenka Mertelj,
Darja Lisjak,
X. Zhang,
Irena DrevenšekOlenik
Publication year - 2019
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.27.008900
Subject(s) - diffraction , materials science , optics , diffraction efficiency , diffraction grating , photoresist , liquid crystal , optoelectronics , rigorous coupled wave analysis , magnetic field , ferromagnetism , physics , condensed matter physics , nanotechnology , layer (electronics) , quantum mechanics
Transmission optical diffraction gratings composed of periodic slices of a ferromagnetic liquid crystal and a conventional photoresist polymer are demonstrated. Dependence of diffraction efficiencies of various diffraction orders on an in-plane external magnetic field is investigated. It is shown that diffraction properties can be effectively tuned by magnetic fields as low as a few mT. The tuning mechanism is explained in the framework of a simple empirical model and also by numerical simulations based on the rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA). The obtained results provide a proof of principle of operation of magnetically tunable liquid crystalline diffractive optical elements applicable in contactless schemes for control of optical signals.