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arXiv · 0712.3986

All-optical switching and multistability in photonic structures with liquid crystal defects

Andrey E. Miroshnichenko·Etienne Brasselet·Yuri S. Kivshar
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Abstract

We demonstrate that one-dimensional photonic crystals with pure nematic liquid-crystal defects can operate as all-optical switching devices based on optical orientational nonlinearities of liquid crystals. We show that such a periodic structure is responsible for a modulated threshold of the optical Fréedericksz transition in the spectral domain, and this leads to all-optical switching and light-induced multistability. This effect has no quasi-statics electric field analogue, and it results from nonlinear coupling between light and a defect mode.

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Andrey E. Miroshnichenko, Etienne Brasselet, Yuri S. Kivshar. 2007-12-24. All-optical switching and multistability in photonic structures with liquid crystal defects. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2949076

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