Enhanced optical tuning of modified-geometry resonators clad in blue phase liquid crystals

Opt Lett. 2014 Sep 15;39(18):5435-8. doi: 10.1364/OL.39.005435.

Abstract

Active optical tuning of silicon racetrack resonators clad in dye-doped blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) is experimentally demonstrated. An adiabatic racetrack resonator geometry that allows for enhanced tuning is presented and analyzed. The resonance shift of an unmodified geometry racetrack is Δλ=0.7 nm, while an adiabatic racetrack achieves a Δλ=1.23 nm resonance shift because of a greater mode overlap with the cladding. The calculated refractive index change of the BPLC is Δn=0.0041 for both geometries.