Voltage sensor based on liquid-crystal-infiltrated photonic crystal fiber with high index

Abstract

The molecules of nematic liquid crystal rotate as the ambient voltage increases. A photonic crystal fiber with many holes distributed on its cross section provides a platform to integrate the fiber and liquid crystal. The refractive index distribution of the photonic crystal fiber infiltrated with liquid crystal varies with changing voltage. A photonic crystal fiber with a high refractive index is chosen. The influence of voltage on the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal, loss and birefringence of the fiber are analyzed. The average sensitivity is up to −7.37 nmV−1 at the temperature of 20 °C as the voltage varies from 325 to 425 V.