In this paper, micron-scale metallodielectric and all-dielectric frequency selective surfaces (FSS) are synthesized with a liquid crystal (LC) superstrate to exhibit broadband tunable filter characteristics at mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths. The low loss and birefringence properties of LC span the visible to far-IR spectrum, providing potential for the development of a new class of infrared/optical switches.
I. IntroductionThere is currently interest in developing tunable filters and switches for infrared (IR) and optical applications. Previous research has demonstrated the synthesis of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) for use as infrared (IR) band-reject and band-pass filters with applications in various IR signal-processing devices. Single-layer metallodielectric FSS have been synthesized and fabricated using fractal and genetic algorithm techniques to exhibit multiband filter responses in the far-IR [1,2]. Fabrication constraints were developed and incorporated within the genetic algorithm synthesis procedure to achieve designs that could be accurately fabricated [3]. For applications at optical wavelengths, the metallic losses start to affect the performance of metallodielectric FSS filters. Thus, for optical applications, all-dielectric frequency selective surfaces (DFSS) can be synthesized as planar, polarization insensitive filters [4]. The frequency responses of these metallodielectric and all-dielectric FSS can be altered by incorporating a tunable dielectric, such as liquid crystal (LC), into the FSS structure [5].