Hybrid guiding in liquid-crystal photonic crystal fibers

Abstract

A hybrid guiding liquid-crystal photonic crystal fiber is proposed, in which two polarization components (E_x and E_y) 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 effect in different wavelength ranges. Particularly, high birefringence in an order of 10^-2 can be easily obtained.