1.
Opt Express
; 26(2): 781-789, 2018 Jan 22.
Artigo
em Inglês
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29401958
RESUMO
We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of an optically switchable polarizing beam splitter with a prism/azobenzene liquid crystal/prism hybrid structure. The beam splitter can operate in the polarization-splitting mode and the non-splitting mode. The switching between the modes is realized by the photoisomerization-induced phase transitions in the azobenzene liquid crystal, featuring all-optical control, bistability, and fast response. Such an active polarization-handling element is highly desirable as it not only simplifies and compacts sophisticated optical systems but also increases the degree of freedom in optical circuit design.