Circuit breaker for multiple mode waveguides - uses jacket of liq. crystals encasing waveguide core and switched between two refractive index values

摘要

A circuit closer/breaker is designed for multiple-mode systems. It is for systems having multiple-mode waveguides and in this respect takes the place of so-called directional couplers that, however, cannot be inserted as switches in multi-mode systems. The proposed arrangement comprises the waveguide core encased in a jacket of liquid crystals (4) such that between this jacket and the waveguide core a first transparent cylindrical shaped electrode (3) is positioned. A second electrode (5) encloses the jacket of liquid crystals the latter being electrically switchable between two values of refractive index, of which, the waveguide core has a magnitude lying between these two values.