Universal building blocks for modular photonics and related all-optical technologies

The objective of this proposal is to mature the photosensitive liquid crystal (LC) material and device technologies the feasibility of which was demonstrated in the Phase 1 of the project. Prototypes of basic optical components that can be assembled to perform variety of photonics tasks controlled by low-power light beams, particularly, from LED sources will be demonstrated. Different realizations of this all-optical modular technology to be delivered in the Phase 2 will include: surveillance and security camera systems with sensor protection and laser mitigation capability; planar micro-optical systems allowing dynamically controlled interfacing between waveguides or fibers; all-optical spatial light modulator assemblies; and test and development systems for sensing, visualizing and the control of evanescent light propagation in complex micro-optical structures. Such a large family of devices and technologies originates from the novel light modulating capabilities of an extended class of photosensitive LC, which were synthesized in the Phase 1 work. Photoinduced transformations between phases of these materials and the impact of such transformations on their optical properties will be characterized. Material properties (temperature range, birefringence, photosensitivity, response times) will be optimized and subsequently tailored to specific applications.