1C09 Optical properties of photonic crystals infiltrated with liquid crystals

Abstract

When an optically birefrigent nematic liquid crystal is infiltrated into the void regions of photonic crystals, degeneracies seen in photonic band schemes are found theoretically to disappear, resulting in the appearance of several new weak peaks in the reflection spectra. Tunabilities of the reflection peaks upon applied electric fields are discussed as a function of refractive indices and anisotropies of liquid crystals. Experimental observations of stepwise changes are interpreted to be caused by disappearances of degeneracies of band structures when directors of liquid crystals become parallel to the light propagation.