Tunable band gap in a photonic crystal modulated by a nematic liquid crystal

[[abstract]]Photonic crystals (PCs) have many potential applications because of their ability to control light-wave propagation. We have investigated the tunable band gap in a photonic crystal modulated by a nematic liquid crystal. Numerical simulations show that the band gaps can be continuously tuned in two-dimensional square and triangular lattices of cylinders by infiltrating nematic liquid crystals. Then we can control the band gap in a PC structure. We also analyzed the gap maps of tunable band gap by considering various indices modulation of liquid crystals. These results can be used as tunable field-sensitive polarizer in photonic integrated circuits.[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙