LC-based subwavelength diffractive optical element structures for optical cross-connect applications

Boris Apter; Shy Acco; Uzi Efron

doi:10.1117/12.447757

8 November 2001 LC-based subwavelength diffractive optical element structures for optical cross-connect applications

Boris Apter, Shy Acco, Uzi Efron

Proceedings Volume 4457, Spatial Light Modulators: Technology and Applications; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447757
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Two novel concepts of liquid crystal (LC) diffractive structures are introduced and analyzed. Both structures are aimed at overcoming the fringing field effect in thin LC cells while allowing sufficiently large phase dynamic range to be attained. The first structure is a combination of a sub-wavelength metal grating configuration, combined with a built-in reflective, blazed grating structure and a uniform thickness LC cell. The reflective blazed grating provides a periodic, linear phase modulation, while the metal-strip sub-wavelength grating acts as a polarization-sensitive transparent multi-electrode element. The thin liquid crystal layer provides the spatially-varying dynamic phase profile. It is shown that this structure allows a triple-beam deflection operation. A diffraction analysis based on the LC director simulation shows a diffraction efficiency of over 66% in all three diffraction angles. A detailed high-spatial resolution analysis of the fringing field effect on the LC alignment for this structure is described. The second configuration is based on a built-in blazed diffractive grating, composed of two optical substrates with different refractive indices and a uniform-thickness LC layer, enclosed in a Fabry-Perot cavity. It is shown that this structure which overcomes the difficulties of LC alignment and fringing field effects in hybrid, blazed LC-glass structures, allows a dynamic switching of a laser beam with a diffraction efficiency exceeding 75%.

Citation Download Citation

Boris Apter, Shy Acco, and Uzi Efron "LC-based subwavelength diffractive optical element structures for optical cross-connect applications", Proc. SPIE 4457, Spatial Light Modulators: Technology and Applications, (8 November 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447757

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Liquid crystals

Diffraction

Diffraction gratings

Metals

Refractive index

Electrodes

Reflectivity

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years