FAST FIBER OPTIC SWITCH USING FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A 1 X 2 ELECTRO-OPTIC SWITCH FOR USE WITH MULTIMODE OPTICAL FIBERS. BY EMPLOYING LIGHT VALVES HAVING FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS AS THE ELECTRO-OPTIC MEDIUM, THE DEVICES TO BE DEVELOPED WOULD EXHIBIT SWITCHING TIMES AT OR BELOW 1 MICROSECOND. THE DEVICES WOULD BE SMALL IN SIZE, CONSUME LITTLE ELECTRICAL POWER AND WOULD COMPLETELY SWITCH UNPOLARIZED LIGHT WHILE MAINTAINING LOW INSERTION LOSS AND LOW CROSSTALK. THE DEVICES COULD BE FABRICATED WITHER AS DISCRETE SWITCHES OR AS LINEAR OR RECTANGULAR ARRAYS OF INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLABLE SWITCHES. THE SWITCHING WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DIVIDING THE LIGHT FROM THE INPUT FIBER INTO ORTHOGONAL LINEAR POLARIZATIONS, EXCHANGING POLARIZATION STATES WITH THE LIQUID CRYSTAL LAYER TO AFFECT THE SWITCHING AND RECOMBINING ALL THE LIGHT AT THE SELECTED OUTPUT FIBER.