All-optical switching of infrared optical radiation using isotropic liquid crystal

Author

LoPresti, P.G. ; Zhou, P. ; Linquist, R.G. ; Khoo, I.C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA, USA

Volume

31

Issue

4

fYear

1995

fDate

4/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

723

Lastpage

728

Abstract

Experimental results of the transmission to total-internal reflection switching of a step-on CO₂ laser beam by a dielectric-clad, isotropic liquid crystal film is presented. The use of the isotropic phase allows for polarization independence of the processes, while maintaining a moderate thermal nonlinearity. Dependence of switching speed on incident angle and energy density is evaluated. Experimental observations of the nonlinear switching effect with microsecond CO₂ laser pulses are also presented

Keywords

high-speed optical techniques; laser beams; light polarisation; light reflection; liquid crystal devices; nonlinear optics; optical films; optical switches; CO₂; all-optical switching; dielectric-clad; energy density; incident angle; infrared optical radiation; isotropic liquid crystal; isotropic phase; microsecond CO₂ laser pulses; nonlinear switching effect; polarization independence; step-on CO₂ laser beam; switching speed; thermal nonlinearity; total-internal reflection switching; Dielectric liquids; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser theory; Liquid crystals; Nonlinear optics; Optical films; Optical refraction; Optical surface waves; Optical variables control;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.371948

Filename

371948