High tunability mixed order photonic crystal

Abstract

We propose a design for high tunability one-dimensional photonic-crystal which consists of alternating layers of isotropic material and liquid crystal layers. Numerical models confirm the tunability over the visible region ranging from 480 to 560 nm for a mixed order device using a material birefringence of 0.3, and to 620 nm if a birefringence of 0.6 is allowed. Modeled devices having active layers with mλ/4 and passive layers with nλ/4 thickness for the case of m and n odd integers are presented. The advantage of m>n is shown to be greater tunability for a given free spectral range. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.