Ferroelectric liquid crystal integrated nanophotonics

"Specially engineered self-assembling ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLCs) structures are capable of photonic bandgap functions, light emission, GHz electro-optic modulation, and second harmonic generation. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the ability tointegrate FLCs with silicon integrated circuits for both experimental applications (e.g. smart pixels, optical processing) and commercial applications (we sell a million microdisplays per year for consumer products). We've also demonstrated waveguidedevices incorporating FLCs. Because of their unique combination of electro-optic properties and processability, FLCs are potentially the foundation of an important new integrated nanophotonics technology.We propose to test and demonstrate the nanophotonic properties and capabilities of a new generation of experimental FLCs, and to develop preliminary single chip device architectures. Specifically, we aim to simultaneously demonstrate in combination anFLC's photonic bandgap properties (to make a distributed resonator), its electro-optic coefficients (EO modulation and second harmonic generation), and light emission (dye-doped FLC) by showing lasing with simultaneous SHG. The laser's output beam shouldbe steerable by electrically manipulating the FLC's photonic bandgap structure. Benefits of the proposed work include the evaluation of electro-optic properties of new FLCs and a feasibility demonstration of novel FLC nanophotonic functions. Potential commercial applications in telecommunications include high-speed opticalmodulation (e.g. 40GHz), integrated laser light sources, and electrically tunable photonic bandgap functions."