LIQUID CRYSTAL VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR

摘要

A twisted nematic liquid crystal variable optical attenuator[100] is presented with one substrate that includes a integrated subwavelength nanostructured polarizer[111]. 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 subwavelength 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[106] bonding the opposing top and bottom substrates each having a spacer layer[107] to accurately control cell gap thickness. The liquid crystal variable optical attenuator[100] may also include an integrated thermal sensor and heater deposition layer[ 108] sandwiched between or deposited on at least one or both opposing substrates.