title: Liquid crystal modulator with ultra-wide dynamic range and adjustable driving voltage.
abstract: We demonstrated a reflective-type liquid crystal (LC) intensity modulator in 1550 nm telecomm band. An effective way to compensate the residual phase of a LC cell is proposed. With the adjustment of a true zero-order quarter wave plate and enhanced by total internal reflection induced birefringence, over 53 dB dynamic range was achieved, which is much desired for some high-end optical communication, infrared scene projection applications. In addition, the driving voltages were decreased and adjustable. Mechanical and spectral tolerance measurements show that our LC modulator is quite stable. Further applications of our experimental setup were discussed including bio-sensors and high speed modulators.
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering and National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
authors: Xing-jun
authors: XJ
authors: Wang
authors: Zhang-di
authors: ZD
authors: Huang
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Feng
authors: Xiang-fei
authors: XF
authors: Chen
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Liang
authors: Yan-qing
authors: YQ
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation*