Polarization-independent optical fiber modulator by use of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

Ultrasmall light modulators have been made by sandwiching a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) between two ferrules with optical fibers. The device can modulate light independent of the state of polarization, because the PDLC becomes transparent or opaque when either sufficient or no voltage is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied optics (2004) 1998-05, Vol.37 (15), p.3181-3189
Main Authors: Takizawa, K, Kodama, K, Kishi, K
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Ultrasmall light modulators have been made by sandwiching a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) between two ferrules with optical fibers. The device can modulate light independent of the state of polarization, because the PDLC becomes transparent or opaque when either sufficient or no voltage is applied to the film. The PDLC was prepared by mixing and annealing a prepolymer and nematic liquid crystal with large anisotropy. An optical fiber modulator with a 30-microm thick PDLC film had an extinction ratio of 8:1-33:1, an insertion loss of 1.3 dB, and rise and decay times of 4 ms at a wavelength of 1.3 microm.
ISSN:1559-128X
2155-3165
DOI:10.1364/AO.37.003181