Multifunctional and reconfigurable graphene/liquid crystal-assisted asymmetrical Fabry-Pérot cavity for reflected light control

Abstract

Multifunctional and reconfigurable devices are crucial for compact and smart optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we propose a multifunctional and spectrally reconfigurable asymmetric 1D PhC Fabry-Pérot cavity filled with nematic liquid crystal and bounded by two graphene monolayers. Due to the large number of available degrees of freedom, such a structure can behave as either a notch filter, an absorber, an amplitude modulator, or a phase shifter for the reflected electromagnetic waves. The chemical potential of one or both graphene monolayers can be exploited to modulate the amplitude and phase-shift angle of the reflected electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, all functions are narrowband (1 nm linewidth) and are spectrally tunable over a range of about 200 nm around the working wavelength of 1550 nm by controlling the orientation of the elongated molecules of the liquid crystal. This structure may be advantageously exploited for the realization of optical modulators and beamsteering systems.

Recent progress and future perspectives on carbon-nanomaterial-dispersed liquid crystal composites

“…In the recent past, graphene has also been used in different ways to explore various LC-based non-display applications. For instance, efficient electro-optical switchable devices based on functionalized GO-dispersed H-bonded LCs [171], terahertz phase and polarization control devices based on LCs integrated with artificial microstructures [172], terahertz power visualization using three-dimensional porousgraphene-assisted capsulized cholesteric LCs [173], plenoptic imaging using an electrically controlled LC microlens array based on single-crystal graphene coupling alignment [174], and multifunctional and a reconfigurable graphene/LCassisted asymmetrical Fabry-Perot cavity to tune the reflected light have been explored in depth [175].…”