Electrically controlled anisotropic liquid crystal waveguides

  • Igor A. Goncharenko Institute for Command Engineers of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, 25 Mašynabudaŭnikoŭ Street, Minsk 220118, Belarus
  • Olga S. Kabanova Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Elena A. Melnikova Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Oleg G. Romanov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Irina I. Rushnova Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Alexei L. Tolstik Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Abstract

In this paper the technology to generate the electrically controlled anisotropic liquid crystal (LC) waveguide structures based on the interface between two LC regions differing in the director orientations is put forward. Thin-film nematic  LC waveguide elements with the adjustable parameters have been developed; the features of excitation of the light-field waveguide mode propagation in such elements have been demonstrated experimentally. Using computer simulation, the electrostatic field configuration, LC director orientation, changes in the refractive index, propagation of laser beams in the LC waveguide elements have been computed. The propagation constants and the transverse field distribution for the guided modes in LC waveguide structures have been calculated by the numerical methods at different control voltages  and LC layer thicknesses making it possible to establish the formation conditions for the electrically controlled LC waveguide structure.

Author Biographies

Igor A. Goncharenko, Institute for Command Engineers of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, 25 Mašynabudaŭnikoŭ Street, Minsk 220118, Belarus

doctor of science (physics and mathematics), full professor; professor at the department of natural sciences, faculty research training

Olga S. Kabanova, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

junior researcher at the research laboratory of nonlinear optics and spectroscopy, faculty of physics

Elena A. Melnikova, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (physics and mathematics), docent; associate professor at the department of laser physics and spectroscopy, faculty of physics

Oleg G. Romanov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (physics and mathematics), docent; head of the department of computer modeling, faculty of physics

Irina I. Rushnova, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

junior researcher at the research laboratory of nonlinear optics and spectroscopy, faculty of physics

Alexei L. Tolstik, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

doctor of science (physics and mathematics), full professor; professor at the department of laser physics and spectroscopy, faculty of physics

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Published
2017-05-30
Keywords: nematic liquid crystal, waveguide propagation, total internal reflection, refractive interface, optical anisotropy
How to Cite
Goncharenko, I. A., Kabanova, O. S., Melnikova, E. A., Romanov, O. G., Rushnova, I. I., & Tolstik, A. L. (2017). Electrically controlled anisotropic liquid crystal waveguides. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics, 2, 4-9. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/physics/article/view/433