Patent
1986-02-27
1988-01-26
Lee, John
350 9629, 350337, 350347E, 350352, 350391, G02B 530
Patent
active
047213523
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus selectively transmits light in one of two orthogonal polarizations in an optical fiber. The apparatus has a facing surface formed at one location on the fiber to expose the evanescent field of an optical signal in the fiber. A nematic liquid crystal is placed in contact with the facing surface so that it is in communication with the evanescent field of the optical signal. The nematic crystals have a first orientation state which presents a first refractive index to light traveling in one polarization and a second refractive index to light traveling in the other polarization. The light traveling in one polarization is well guided while the light traveling in the other polarization is radiated at the facing surface. Thus, only light of one polarization continues to propagate through the fiber. The nematic crystals have a second orientation state in which the relative refractive indices for the two polarizations of light are changed so that the polarization which was originally well guided is radiated at the facing surface and the polarization which was originally radiated is well guided. The change in the orientation states of the nematic crystals is accomplished by applying an electric field between two electrodes so that the nematic crystals align themselves with the electric field.
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Liu Karen
Shaw Herbert J.
Sorin Wayne V
Lee John
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
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