Conducting tape helix loaded radially anisotropic liquid crystal clad optical fiber

Abstract

The paper reports investigation of a rather new type of optical fiber composed of three layers with the outermost region being radially anisotropic liquid crystal material, and the inner two regions as linear, homogeneous, and isotropic dielectrics. As such, the anisotropy remains in the outermost section of fiber. The core–clad interface of the inner dielectric regions is assumed to be loaded with conducting tape helix structure. It has been found that the width of the tape as well as the helix pitch angle are the effective parameters to govern the dispersion characteristics. Taking into account the zero-order guided modes, the effects on confinements due to the amalgamation of birefringence (optical property of liquid crystal) and tape helix pitch (geometrical/structural property of perfect conductor) are reported. The obtained results are compared with the case of a conducting sheath helix loaded liquid crystal fiber structure, and it has been found that the conducting tape helix loadings would be more useful than the sheath helix loaded fibers.