Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators

Abstract Cholesteric liquid crystals exhibit a periodic helical structure that partially reflects light with wavelengths comparable to the period of the structure, thus performing as a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Here, we demonstrate a combined experimental and numerical study of light transmi...

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Main Authors: Jaka Zaplotnik, Urban Mur, Deepshika Malkar, Amid Ranjkesh, Igor Muševič, Miha Ravnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43912-2
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author Jaka Zaplotnik
Urban Mur
Deepshika Malkar
Amid Ranjkesh
Igor Muševič
Miha Ravnik
author_facet Jaka Zaplotnik
Urban Mur
Deepshika Malkar
Amid Ranjkesh
Igor Muševič
Miha Ravnik
author_sort Jaka Zaplotnik
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cholesteric liquid crystals exhibit a periodic helical structure that partially reflects light with wavelengths comparable to the period of the structure, thus performing as a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Here, we demonstrate a combined experimental and numerical study of light transmittance spectra of finite-length helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals, as affected by the main system and material parameters, as well as the corresponding eigenmodes and frequency eigenspectra with their Q-factors. Specifically, we have measured and simulated transmittance spectra of samples with different thicknesses, birefringences and for various incident light polarisation configurations as well as quantified the role of refractive index dispersion and the divergence of the incident light beam on transmittance spectra. We identify the relation between transmittance spectra and the eigenfrequencies of the photonic eigenmodes. Furthermore, we present and visualize the geometry of these eigenmodes and corresponding Q-factors. More generally, this work systematically studies the properties of light propagation in a one-dimensional helical cholesteric liquid crystal birefringent profile, which is known to be of interest for the design of micro-lasers and other soft matter photonic devices.
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spelling doaj.art-03cf14b4c453453a86808bdf88f8f3932023-11-20T09:22:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-10-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-43912-2Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonatorsJaka Zaplotnik0Urban Mur1Deepshika Malkar2Amid Ranjkesh3Igor Muševič4Miha Ravnik5Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of LjubljanaFaculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of LjubljanaDepartment of Condensed Matter Physics, Jožef Stefan InstituteDepartment of Condensed Matter Physics, Jožef Stefan InstituteFaculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of LjubljanaFaculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of LjubljanaAbstract Cholesteric liquid crystals exhibit a periodic helical structure that partially reflects light with wavelengths comparable to the period of the structure, thus performing as a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Here, we demonstrate a combined experimental and numerical study of light transmittance spectra of finite-length helical structure of cholesteric liquid crystals, as affected by the main system and material parameters, as well as the corresponding eigenmodes and frequency eigenspectra with their Q-factors. Specifically, we have measured and simulated transmittance spectra of samples with different thicknesses, birefringences and for various incident light polarisation configurations as well as quantified the role of refractive index dispersion and the divergence of the incident light beam on transmittance spectra. We identify the relation between transmittance spectra and the eigenfrequencies of the photonic eigenmodes. Furthermore, we present and visualize the geometry of these eigenmodes and corresponding Q-factors. More generally, this work systematically studies the properties of light propagation in a one-dimensional helical cholesteric liquid crystal birefringent profile, which is known to be of interest for the design of micro-lasers and other soft matter photonic devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43912-2
spellingShingle Jaka Zaplotnik
Urban Mur
Deepshika Malkar
Amid Ranjkesh
Igor Muševič
Miha Ravnik
Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
Scientific Reports
title Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
title_full Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
title_fullStr Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
title_full_unstemmed Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
title_short Photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite-length 1D cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
title_sort photonic eigenmodes and transmittance of finite length 1d cholesteric liquid crystal resonators
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43912-2
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