Fast polarisation-insensitive optical shutter supported by backflow in dichroic dye-doped dual-frequency liquid crystal

This paper describes a novel implementation of a dual-frequency liquid crystal optical shutter of the guest–host type. The transmissive state of the filter is obtained by applying a low-frequency electric field that brings the dichroic dye in a homeotropic orientation. The light-absorbing state is realised by a twisted planar configuration for which the absorption is quasi-independent of the polarisation. Switching between the two states occurs in about 1 ms and the devices show no scattering for wavelengths inside or outside the absorption band of the dichroic dye. Simulations and experiments reveal how a twisted state is obtained through the backflow phenomenon.     

Topologically protected interface mode in plasmonic waveguide arrays

Recent realization of nontrivial topological phases in photonic systems has provided unprecedented opportunities in steering light flow in novel manners. Based on the Su–Schriffer–Heeger (SSH) model, a topologically protected optical mode was successfully demonstrated in a plasmonic waveguide array with a kinked interface that exhibits a robust nonspreading feature. However, under the same excitation conditions, another antikinked structure seemingly cannot support such a topological interface mode, which appears to be inconsistent with the SSH model. Theoretical calculations are carried out based on the coupled‐mode theory, in which the mode properties, excitation conditions, and the robustness are studied in detail. It is revealed that under the exact eigenstate excitations, both kinked and antikinked structures do support such robust topological interface modes; however, for a realistic single‐waveguide input only the kinked structure does so. It is concluded that the symmetry of interface eigenmodes plays a crucial role, and the odd eigenmode in a kinked structure offers the capacity to excite the nonspreading interface mode in the realistic excitation of a one‐waveguide input. Our finding deepens the understanding of mode excitation and propagation in coupled waveguide systems, and could open a new avenue in optical simulations and photonic designs.

     

Monolithically integrated 64‐channel silicon hybrid demultiplexer enabling simultaneous wavelength‐ and mode‐division‐multiplexing

A compact 64‐channel hybrid demultiplexer based on silicon‐on‐insulator nanowires is proposed and demonstrated experimentally to enable wavelength‐division‐multiplexing and mode‐division‐multiplexing simultaneously in order to realize an ultra‐large capacity on‐chip optical‐interconnect link. The present hybrid demultiplexer consists of a 4‐channel mode multiplexer constructed with cascaded asymmetrical directional‐couplers and two bi‐directional 17 × 17 arrayed‐waveguide gratings (AWGs) with 16 channels. Here each bi‐directional AWG is equivalent as two identical 1 × 16 AWGs. The measured excess loss and the crosstalk for the monolithically integrated 64‐channel hybrid demultiplexer are about ‐5 dB and ‐14 dB, respectively. Better performance can be achieved by minimizing the imperfections (particularly in AWGs) during the fabrication processes.

     

Ballistic electron transport in wrinkled superlattices

Inspired by the problem of elastic wave scattering on wrinkled interfaces, we studied the scattering of ballistic electrons on a wrinkled potential energy region. The electron transmission coefficient depends on both wrinkle amplitude and periodicity, having different behaviors for positive and negative scattering potential energies. For scattering on potential barriers, minibands appear in the electron transmission, as in superlattices, whereas for scattering on periodic potential wells the transmission coefficient has a more complex form. Besides suggesting that tuning of electron transmission is possible by modifying the scattering potential via voltages on wrinkled gate electrodes, our results emphasize the analogies between ballistic electrons and elastic waves even in scattering problems on non-typical configurations.     

平行排列液晶器件的波前调制特性

设计了一种新型的平行排列液晶相位调制器(LC PM),可在纯相位的模式下进行相位调制,研究了液晶相位调制器的光学特性,理论上给予了分析．对畸变波前进行了调制,在1 cm2的校正面积上,调制后的准确度PV(peak to valley)值接近λ／15(λ=0.6328 μm),RMS(Root Means Square)可达到λ／100,斯特列尔比SR (Strehl Ratio)达到0.989．改变了传统的扭曲向列液晶器件难于进行纯相位调制和得到高准确度调制的缺点,达到了理想的效果.     

转移矩阵法在负折射率介质材料平板波导中的应用研究

利用严格电磁理论,推导出了适用于负折射率介质材料光波导的转移矩阵,分析讨论了转移矩阵的性质和应用.利用转移矩阵方法,推导出导波层为负折射率介质材料、覆盖层和衬底为右手材料的三层对称介质光波导的本征色散方程.用图解法研究了负折射率介质波导中TE波的异常色散特性.在负折射材料介质波导中没有零阶模,最低阶为1阶模,并且有截止频率,只有波导参量满足一定条件的时候才会存在,导模的横向波数可以为实数和纯虚数,而正折射率介质波导导模的横向波数只能为实数.     

掩埋式多模干涉型分束器的反射性能

通过束传播方法(BPM)模拟了SiO2基掩埋式波导结构多模干涉(MMI)型分束器的反射性能,模拟结果表明,MMI工作在分束模式时存在最优的多模干涉长度实现最大输出和最小反射,而在合束模式下实现最大输出时反射也达到最大,这是由自映象原理决定的。SiO2基掩埋式波导结构MMI分束器对反射具有良好的抑制作用,其最大反射功率为-60dB。分析表明,多模干涉区末端的界面反射率决定了器件的反射强弱,SiO2基掩埋式波导的界面反射率非常低,这是其低反射的原因。     

在粗糙表面上用液晶空间光调制器进行振动测量

为实现在一段时间内连续实时观测振动物体的全息干涉图形,采用覆盖铝箔的喇叭作为振动物体,利用铝箔原有未经特殊处理表面反射的漫反射光成像,并用光寻址液晶空间光调制器(Liquid crystal-sparial lightmodulator,LC-SLM)作为全息记录载体,来实现振动测量。实验中采用时间平均干涉测量法,得到了不同振动频率下物体的干涉图形。同时在连续改变振动物体的振动频率时,可以清晰地观察到物体振动全息干涉图形的变化过程,即近实时的全息干涉图形。     

基于光子数目比较的激光测距法

提出了一种新颖的激光测距方法。该方法避开了传统激光测距法中使用复杂辅助电子设备对脉冲计时或比较相位差的过程,而主要通过光学手段分析和提取待测距离信息,最终通过比较大量光子数目的方法求得待测距离。并利用单轴晶体的双折射和全内双反射性质,用特殊结构的单块LiNbO3晶体设计了实施该方法的主体装置。结果表明,该激光测距法同目前普遍使用的激光测距法相比,不但简化了结构,而且有很高的测距精度,从而为激光测距开拓了一种新的思路。     

Analysis,design and simulation of MIM plasmonic filters with different geometries for technical parameters improvement

In this paper, four optical filter topologies based on metal–insulator–metal waveguides are proposed and the designed structures are investigated numerically using finite-difference timedomain method. Triangular-shaped adjunctions have been added to the filter structures to improve their transmission spectrum. These improved structures consist of air as the insulator and silver as the metal. The relative permittivity of metal has been described via the Drude,Drude–Lorentz, and Palik models. The first filter's transmission spectrum shows an acceptable transmittance. In the second optimized filter, the transmission spectrum has been improved. The transmittance spectrum can be tuned through adjusting the edge of the triangle in these four optimized filters. As a result, the bandwidths of resonance spectra can be adjusted. The theory of such tapered structures will be investigated by the tapered transmission line and will be solved with the transfer matrix method. This method shows a better performance and higher transmission efficiency in comparison with the basic structures. On the other hand, the final filter has been chosen as the best one because of its hexagonal resonator. The main reason for having a better result is due to a longer interaction length in comparison with the circular resonator. This in turn creates much better energy coupling and results in higher transmission.