A vertically-coupled liquid-crystal long-range plasmonic optical switch

TL;DR

This paper proposes a liquid-crystal based long-range plasmonic optical switch with extensive electro-optic tuning, low power consumption, and reduced losses, demonstrated through theoretical analysis of its optical properties and switching capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel vertically-coupled liquid-crystal plasmonic switch with detailed theoretical investigation of its electro-optic tuning and optical performance.

Findings

Achieves extensive electro-optic tuning of waveguiding characteristics.

Demonstrates low power consumption and low cross-talk.

Features short coupling lengths and reduced insertion losses.

Abstract

An optical switch based on liquid-crystal tunable long-range metal stripe waveguides is proposed and theoretically investigated. A nematic liquid crystal layer placed between a vertical configuration consisting of two gold stripes is shown to allow for the extensive electro-optic tuning of the coupler's waveguiding characteristics. Rigorous liquid-crystal switching studies are coupled with the investigation of the optical properties of the proposed plasmonic structure, taking into account different excitation conditions and the impact of LC-scattering losses. A directional coupler optical switch is demonstrated, which combines low power consumption, low cross-talk, short coupling lengths, along with sufficiently reduced insertion losses.