Polymer-Stabilized Blue Phase and Its Application to a 1.5 µm Band Wavelength Selective Filter

Abstract

The use of polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) including a tolane-type liquid crystal was investigated to develop a voltage-controlled wavelength selective filter for wavelength-division-multiplexing optical fiber network. It was found that the tolane-type liquid crystal introduction can increase both a blue-phase temperature range and a Kerr coefficient. A Fabry–Perot etalon filled with PSBP functioned as a wavelength selective filter, as expected. The tuning wavelength range was 62 nm although peak transmission was not as high as expected. Numerical analysis suggested that light absorption in transparent electrodes may cause the issue. Minor change to the etalon structure will result in improved performance.

Keywords

• liquid crystal
• variable wavelength filter
• blue phase
• stabilized polymer