Voltage-induced defect mode coupling in a one-dimensional photonic crystal with a twisted-nematic defect layer

Abstract

Defect modes are investigated in a band gap of an electrically tunable one-dimensional photonic crystal infiltrated with a twisted-nematic liquid crystal. Their frequency shift and interference under applied voltage are studied both experimentally and theoretically. We deal with the case where the defect layer thickness is much larger than the wavelength (i.e., the Mauguin condition). It is shown theoretically that the defect modes could have a complex structure with elliptic polarization. Two series of polarized modes are coupled with each other and exhibit an avoided crossing phenomenon in the case of opposite parity.