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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 17, Iss. 13 — Jun. 22, 2009
  • pp: 10895–10909

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 17 > Issue 13 > Page 10895

A finite element beam propagation method for simulation of liquid crystal devices

Pieter J. M. Vanbrabant, Jeroen Beeckman, Kristiaan Neyts, Richard James, and F. Anibal Fernandez  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 17, Issue 13, pp. 10895-10909 (2009)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.010895


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Abstract

An efficient full-vectorial finite element beam propagation method is presented that uses higher order vector elements to calculate the wide angle propagation of an optical field through inhomogeneous, anisotropic optical materials such as liquid crystals. The full dielectric permittivity tensor is considered in solving Maxwell’s equations. The wide applicability of the method is illustrated with different examples: the propagation of a laser beam in a uniaxial medium, the tunability of a directional coupler based on liquid crystals and the near-field diffraction of a plane wave in a structure containing micrometer scale variations in the transverse refractive index, similar to the pixels of a spatial light modulator.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

OCIS Codes
(000.4430) General : Numerical approximation and analysis
(130.2790) Integrated optics : Guided waves
(350.5500) Other areas of optics : Propagation

ToC Category:
Optical Devices

History
Original Manuscript: February 10, 2009
Revised Manuscript: April 30, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: May 8, 2009
Published: June 16, 2009

Citation
Pieter J. M. Vanbrabant, Jeroen Beeckman, Kristiaan Neyts, Richard James, and F. Anibal Fernandez, "A finite element beam propagation method for simulation of liquid crystal devices," Opt. Express 17, 10895-10909 (2009)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-13-10895


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