Abstract
The paper presents the results of design, manufacturing, and characterization of a hybrid broad band in-line fiber-optic device. It uses nematic liquid crystal as cladding with electro-steering properties in a biconical optical fiber taper structure. Liquid crystal mixtures denoted as 6CHBT and E7 are designed for electric as well as temperature control of electromagnetic wave propagation in a broad wavelength range. The applied taper with 10±0.5 μm diameters has losses lower than 0.5 dB in whole investigated spectrum range. Three kinds of initial liquid crystal molecules’ orientations (parallel, orthogonal, and twist) in relation to the light beam propagating in a taper were applied. The performance of a tuned cladding was studied at an electric field of the range of 0–190 V and the temperature range from 20°C up to 42°C and 59°C for 6CHBT and E7, respectively. The induced reorientation of liquid crystal molecules was measured at a broad wavelength range (550-1550 nm).
Highlights
Nowadays, the world without liquid crystals’ (LCs) technology is difficult to imagine
Structure of tapered telecommunication fibers was placed in an LC between two electrodes with a different rubbing orientation in order to monitor with an oscilloscope or an optical spectrum analyzer changes of optic power after it passes through LC devices with a modulated electric voltage
The LC device based on optical fiber taper was shown
Summary
The world without liquid crystals’ (LCs) technology is difficult to imagine. The main reason for these phenomena is a reduction in diameter of the optical fiber core and cladding and ensuring that the whole volume of a taper waist is used by the light beam [7, 8]. In this case, difference in the refractive index between the core and the cladding in this volume is irrelevant, thereby air surrounding the taper becomes its cladding [9,10,11].
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