All-organic switching polarizer based on polymer waveguides and liquid crystals

Opt Express. 2018 Apr 16;26(8):9584-9594. doi: 10.1364/OE.26.009584.

Abstract

This paper reports on the design, fabrication and characterization of an all-organic photonic integrated circuit working as a switching polarizer for visible light (630nm), combining organic waveguides and liquid crystals that can be electrically driven. The device was made in commercially available epoxy by laser direct writing lithography. A device with a 2dB loss and a 20dB extinction ratio for both polarizations, was simulated; the manufactured devices proved the working principle of the design. The results have led to the design of a switching polarization splitter, in which a careful choice of waveguide material and liquid crystal can lead to devices working on a wide range of wavelengths.