Polarization characteristics of phase retardation defect mode lasing in polymeric cholesteric liquid crystals

We have studied the lasing characteristics of a dye-doped nematic layer sandwiched by two polymeric cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) films as photonic band gap (PBG) materials. The nematic layer acts as a defect layer, the anisotropy of which brings about the following remarkable optical characteristics: (1) reflectance in the PBG region exceeds 50% due to the retardation effect, being unpredictable from a single CLC film; (2) efficient lasing occurs either at the defect mode wavelength or at the photonic band edge; and (3) the lasing emission due to both the defect mode and the photonic band edge mode contains both right- and left-circular polarizations, while the lasing emission from a dye-doped single CLC layer with a left-handed helix is left-circularly polarized.     

Liquid crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fibers for electric field intensity measurements

The application of nematic liquid crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fiber as a sensor for electric field intensity measurement is demonstrated. The device is based on an intrinsic sensing mechanism for electric fields. The sensor probe, which consists of a 1 cm infiltrated section of photonic crystal fiber with a lateral size of ～125 μm, is very compact with small size and weight. A simple all-fiber design for the sensor is employed in an intensity based measurement scheme. The transmitted and reflected power of the infiltrated photonic crystal fiber is shown to have a linear response with the applied electric field. The sensor is operated in the telecommunication window at 1550 nm. The temperature dependence of the device at this operating wavelength is also experimentally studied and discussed. These structures can be used to accurately measure electric field intensity and can be used for the fabrication of all-fiber sensors for high electric field environments as both an in-line and reflective type point sensor.     

Properties of defect modes in geometrically chirped one-dimensional photonic crystals

The variation of the transmission coefficient with defect mode frequency in a geometrically chirped photonic crystal with central defect layer has been investigated theoretically using transfer matrix method and validated experimentally by fabricating and characterizing such photonic crystals. The defect mode frequency is extracted by modeling the defect layer as a Fabry-Perot resonant cavity with mirrors replaced by two geometrically chirped photonic crystals. It is shown that the structural asymmetry of the chirped photonic crystals with respect to the central defect layer affects the width of the photonic band gap and also induces coupling variation between the eigenmodes of the defect layer and those at the band edges of the constituent photonic crystals. This leads to variation in the defect mode transmittance across the photonic band gap and introduces notches at positions where the eigenmodes of the band edges have maximum transmission.     

Introduction of a planar defect into colloidal photonic-crystal films and their optical properties

A defect mode in the bandgap of photonic crystals is a key factor for potential applications, emission, bandpass filter, sensor, and low throughput laser. A Fabry-Perot type cavity was known as a multilayer film with a planar defect or a one-dimensional colloidal photonic crystal film with a planar defect. In this work, we have developed a simple and easy method by two colloidal crystals, i.e., face center cubic (fcc) structure, films bonded together by hot pressing to form a sandwich structure, and clear defect mode was observed in the photonic bandgap of fcc (1 1 1) direction. We have investigated the effect of the thickness of the defect layer in the sandwich structure on the optical properties. A single or double dips appeared in Bragg's diffraction peak at different planar defect thicknesses. In addition, a simulation of the reflection spectra of multilayer film calculation showed the defect mode is much influenced by the planar defect thickness.     

Thermooptical switching in a one-dimensional photonic crystal

The temperature dependence of the optical transmission spectrum of a one-dimensional multilayer photonic crystal structure with a central defect layer has been studied. The defect was represented by a nematic liquid crystal (5CB) layer with a homeotropic orientation. It is shows that the defect modes exhibit a 10-nm spectral shift due to a change in the refractive index of the liquid crystal in the course of heating-induced transition to the isotropic phase. A comparison of the experimental data to the results of heating-induced transition to the isotropic phase. A comparison of the experimental data to the results of numerical analysis shows the importance of allowance for the decay of defect modes.     

Optical properties of three-dimensional woodpile photonic crystals composed of circular cylinders with planar defect structures

The optical properties of three-dimensional woodpile photonic crystals (PhCs) composed of circular cylinder rods with a planar defect structure at the central layer are theoretically investigated using the parallel finite-difference time-domain method and plane-wave expansion method. Three types of planar defects are introduced into the PhC by alternating respectively the dielectric constant, cylinder diameter, and misalignment of the rods at the defect layer. The transmission spectrum and band diagram of each planar defect structure are systematically studied. The resonance and transmission properties of the defect structures can be characterized by two distinct resonant modes, the defect mode and the band-edge resonant mode, which have been identified by detailed spectrum analysis, calculated mode profiles and field patterns. It is shown that, by modifying the rod diameter or the dielectric constant of materials at the defect layer, the resonant modes can be varied and controlled. Also, by applying dislocation to a layer of dielectric rods, the photonic band edges can be shifted.     

Electrically controlled polarized photoluminescence of CdSe/ZnS nanorods embedded in a liquid crystal template

A novel homogeneous composite material, consisting of luminescent CdSe/ZnS quantum nanorods, embedded in the nematic liquid crystal 5CB, has been prepared. Liquid crystal cells and free-standing stretched polymer films incorporating this composite material were characterized using polarized micro-photoluminescence and electro-optical measurements under an applied electric field. A liquid crystal induced, macroscopic orientation of the nanorods in a thin layer of the material has been demonstrated. A conventional liquid crystal cell, filled with this composite, exhibits 40% modulation of the nanorod's photoluminescence intensity when subjected to an external electric field. These results indicate that quantum nanorods may have practical applications in photonic devices.     

Fringe field switching of a twisted nematic liquid crystal device for a single-cell-gap transflective display

We propose an optical configuration of a twisted nematic liquid crystal device driven by a fringe field for a single-cell-gap transflective display. The dark state of the reflective part is realized by a nematic liquid crystal layer with a twist angle of 63.6 degrees and retardation of 194 nm, while a quarter-wave plate is inserted for the dark state of the transmissive part. Wavelength dispersion of the liquid crystal layer is suppressed by introducing a half-wave plate. Different directions of electric fields rotate liquid crystals to 15 degrees for the bright state of the reflective part, but to -30 degrees for that of the transmissive part. With the proposed configuration, we can realize a high-brightness single-gamma transflective display in a single-cell-gap structure without any in-cell retardation layers.     

Controlled bistability by using array defect layers in one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals

Using analytical modeling and detailed numerical simulations, we investigate the input-output transmission regimes in one-dimensional (1D) nonlinear photonic crystal including array defect layers. A coupled-mode system is derived from the Maxwell equations and analyzed for the stationary-transmission regime in the new proposed structure. Using the idea about introducing defect layers into 1D nonlinear photonic crystals, a new method for creating and controlling optical bistability is proposed. The periodic optical structures with array defect layers can be used as all optical switches between lower- and higher-transmissive states, whereas it possesses one jumping from a low-transmissive state to a transparent state.     

Defect mode in periodic and quasiperiodic one-dimensional photonic structures

The properties of one-dimensional periodic and quasiperiodic photonic crystals with a defect layer have been investigated. Transfer matrix method (TMM) has been used throughout this study. For periodic photonic crystals, results demonstrate the independence of the defect mode frequency on the defect layer while the defect mode transmission coefficient varies with the position of the defect layer position. On the other hand, defect mode frequency is not that responsive to the index of refraction of the defect layer. The quality factor of the defect mode has been studied as a function of the defect layer position as well as its thickness. For quasiperiodic photonic crystals, the frequency of the defect mode is very sensitive to the defect layer position as well as its thickness. An enhancement of the quality factor of the defect mode has been observed. This study may be valuable in designing optical devices and it may also provide a more accurate method to measure the index of refraction.     

Extreme narrow photonic bands and strong photonic localization produced by 2D defect two-segment-connected quadrangular waveguide networks

In this paper, we investigate the properties of optical transmission and photonic localization of two-dimensional (2D) defect two-segment-connected quadrangular waveguide networks (DTSCQWNs) and find that many groups of extreme narrow photonic bands are created in the middle of the transmission spectra. The electromagnetic (EM) waves in DTSCQWNs with the frequencies of extreme narrow photonic bands can produce strong photonic localizations by adjusting defect broken degree. On the other hand, we obtain the formula of extreme narrow photonic bands’ frequencies dependent on defect broken degree and the formula of the largest intensity of photonic localization dependent on defect broken degree, respectively. It may possess potential application for designing all-optical devices based on strong photonic localizations. Additionally, we propose a so-called defecton mode to study the splitting rules of extreme narrow photonic bands, where decomposition-decimation method is expanded from the field of electronic energy spectra to that of optical transmission spectra.     

飞秒激光空间选择性诱导玻璃微结构及应用

利用飞秒激光与玻璃的非线性相互作用，可以对玻璃进行空间选择性微观改性与修饰，赋予新的光功能．本文介绍飞秒激光的持点及其对玻璃微结构的改性，以及近年来利用飞秒激光进行玻璃的缺陷控制、光活性离子(稀土、过渡和重金属离子)价态操作、微晶析出与折射率调控及其在光开关、波分复用、波导型有源器件、光子晶体等微光学器件的制备及光学集成领域应用的进展．     

Analysis of strictly bound modes in photonic crystal fibers by use of a source-model technique

We describe a source-model technique for the analysis of the strictly bound modes propagating in photonic crystal fibers that have a finite photonic bandgap crystal cladding and are surrounded by an air jacket. In this model the field is simulated by a superposition of fields of fictitious electric and magnetic current filaments, suitably placed near the media interfaces of the fiber. A simple point-matching procedure is subsequently used to enforce the continuity conditions across the interfaces, leading to a homogeneous matrix equation. Nontrivial solutions to this equation yield the mode field patterns and propagation constants. As an example, we analyze a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Symmetry characteristics of the modes are discussed and exploited to reduce the computational burden.     

The Fréedericksz surface dynamic effect

It is shown that redistribution of the electric field strength between the bulk and electric double layer and within the electric double layer in a plane-oriented liquid crystal results in a local change of the molecular orientation at an applied voltage below the threshold level. This effect was used to obtain optical modulators by prolonged exposure of the liquid crystal samples to a constant electric field.     

The Langmuir‐Blodgett Approach to Making Colloidal Photonic Crystals from Silica Spheres

The area of colloidal photonic crystal research has attracted enormous attention in recent years as a result of the potential of such materials to provide the means of fabricating new or improved photonic devices. As an area where chemistry still predominates over engineering the field is still in its infancy in terms of finding real applications being limited by ease of fabrication, reproducibility and ‘quality’‐ for example the extent to which ordered structures may be prepared over large areas. It is our contention that the Langmuir‐Blodgett assembly method when applied to colloidal particles of silica and perhaps other materials, offers a way of overcoming these issues. To this end the assembly of silica and other particles into colloidal photonic crystals using the Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) method is described and some of the numerous papers on this topic, which have been published, are reviewed. It is shown that the layer‐by‐layer control of photonic crystal growth afforded by the LB method allows for the fabrication of a range of novel, layered photonic crystals that may not be easily assembled using any other approach. Some of the more interesting of these structures, including so‐called heterostructured photonic crystals comprising of layers of spheres having different diameters are presented and their optical properties described. Finally, we offer our comments as to future applications of this interesting technology.     

一种双通道窄带滤光片的设计与制备

对光子晶体技术在滤光片设计中的应用进行了可行性研究。利用一维光子晶体进行了双通道窄带滤光片的设计,并利用离子束辅助沉积方法进行了滤光片的镀制。同时研究了膜层的误差对滤光片光谱性能的影响,表明其敏感层主要是缺陷层。实验结果表明,运用光子晶体概念进行双通道窄带滤光片设计是可行的。     

Resonant gratings in planar Grandjean cholesteric composite liquid crystals

We propose to induce a two-dimensional (2D) periodic modulation structure into a planar Grandjean cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) to demonstrate the intrinsic 2D photonic crystal properties of such materials. The structure combines a thin transmission grating and a Bragg reflective grating. One advantage of using CLC is the intrinsic high quality Bragg structure, which can be modulated by an electric field: shifting the wavelength band edge by changing the applied field. Another interesting property is the polarization dependence. The main difference between using CLC Bragg instead of a linear grating is the need to operate with a circularly polarized light, because the CLC modes are circular in such a regime. We present preliminary results obtained with what we believe to be the first switchable photonic CLC (PCLC) sample, made up of a polymer CLC gel.     

Tunability of defective one-dimensional photonic crystals based on Faraday effect

The effect of an external magnetic field on the transmittance characteristics of one-dimensional defective photonic crystal in UV radiations has been investigated. Our theoretical treatment is based on the fundamentals of the characteristic matrix method. The numerical results show that the external magnetic field has a significant effect on the permittivity of the defect layer. Therefore, the position and the intensity of the defect mode are strongly affected and the ability of tunability is expected. Moreover, the role played with the thickness of the defect mode on the defect peak is investigated. Wherefore, our structure may be suitable for many applications such as narrow band filter in UV radiations.     

Broad-wavelength-range chemically tunable block-copolymer photonic gels

Responsive photonic crystals have been developed for chemical sensing using the variation of optical properties due to interaction with their environment. Photonic crystals with tunability in the visible or near-infrared region are of interest for controlling and processing light for active components of display, sensory or telecommunication devices. Here, we report a hydrophobic block-hydrophilic polyelectrolyte block polymer that forms a simple one-dimensional periodic lamellar structure. This results in a responsive photonic crystal that can be tuned via swelling of the hydrophilic layers by contact with a fluid reservoir. The glassy hydrophobic layer forces expansion of the hydrophilic layer along the layer normal, yielding extremely large optical tunability through changes in both layer thickness and index of refraction. Polyelectrolyte polymers are known to be highly responsive to a range of stimuli. We show very large reversible optical changes due to variation of the salt concentration of a water reservoir. These one-dimensional Bragg stacks reflect incident light from the ultraviolet-visible region to the near-infrared region (lambda(peak)=350-1,600 nm) with over a 575% change in the position of the stop band. Our work demonstrates the extremely high responsivity possible for polyelectrolyte-based photonic materials.     

Ultrahigh-Q nanocavities written with a nanoprobe

High-Q nanocavities have been extensively studied recently because they are considered key elements in low-power photonic devices and integrated circuits. Here we demonstrate that ultrahigh-Q (>10(6)) nanocavities can be created by employing scanning probe lithography on a prepatterned line defect in a silicon photonic crystal. This is the first realization of ultrahigh-Q nanocavities by the postprocess modification of photonic crystals. With this method, we can form an ultrahigh-Q nanocavity with controllable cavity parameters at an arbitrary position along a line defect. Furthermore, the fabricated nanocavity achieves ultralow power all-optical bistable operation owing to its large cavity enhancement effect. This demonstration indicates the possibility of realizing photonic integrated circuits on demand, where various circuit patterns are written with a nanoprobe on a universal photonic crystal substrate.