title: A finite element beam propagation method for simulation of liquid crystal devices.
abstract: An efficient full-vectorial finite element beam propagation method is presented that uses higher order vector elements to calculate the wide angle propagation of an optical field through inhomogeneous, anisotropic optical materials such as liquid crystals. The full dielectric permittivity tensor is considered in solving Maxwell's equations. The wide applicability of the method is illustrated with different examples: the propagation of a laser beam in a uniaxial medium, the tunability of a directional coupler based on liquid crystals and the near-field diffraction of a plane wave in a structure containing micrometer scale variations in the transverse refractive index, similar to the pixels of a spatial light modulator.
authors: Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium. Pieter.Vanbrabant@elis.ugent.be
authors: Pieter J M
authors: PJ
authors: Vanbrabant
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Beeckman
authors: Kristiaan
authors: K
authors: Neyts
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: James
authors: F Anibal
authors: FA
authors: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016880:Anisotropy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012542:Scattering, Radiation