Liquid crystal variable optical attenuator

摘要

A twisted nematic liquid crystal variable optical attenuator is presented with one substrate that includes a integrated subwavelength nanostructured polarizer. The device may incorporate an integrated isolator whereby a substrate of the liquid crystal sandwich is formed from doped garnet to comprise a faraday rotator etched with a subwavelenth optical nanostructured polarizing grating and enabling the substrate to function as an isolator. The liquid crystal variable optical attenuator may include a deposited metal gasket moisture barrier bonding the opposing top and bottom substrates each having a spacer layer to accurately control cell gap thickness. The liquid crystal variable optical attenuator may also include an integrated thermal sensor and heater deposition layer sandwiched between or deposited on at least one or both opposing substrates.