Controllable Selective Coupling of Dyakonov Surface Waves at a Liquid-Crystal-Based Interface

Abstract

Highly directional and lossless surface wave has significant potential applications in the two-dimensional photonic circuits and devices. Here we experimentally demonstrate a selective Dyakonov surface wave coupling at the interface between a transparent polycarbonate material and nematic liquid crystal 5CB. By controlling the anisotropy of the nematic liquid crystal with an applied magnetic field, a single ray at a certain incident angle from a diverged incident beam can be selectively coupled into surface wave. The implementation of this property may lead to a new generation of on-chip integrated optics and two-dimensional photonic devices.