Hybrid guiding in liquid-crystal photonic crystal fibers

Abstract

A hybrid guiding liquid-crystal photonic crystal fiber is proposed, in which two polarization components (Ex and Ey) are confined by modified total internal reflection and bandgap guidance, respectively. With the aid of scalar wave approximation, the distinct features in band structures of liquid-crystal photonic bandgap fibers are successfully identified. This hybrid guiding feature makes it possible to achieve single-polarization single-mode guiding and high birefringence guiding effects in different wavelength ranges. Particularly, high birefringence of an order of 10−2 can be easily obtained.