Tunable T-shaped waveguide in two dimensional photonic crystals based on liquid crystals

In the last years, in order to achieve active tuning of photonic crystals devices, the possibility to use liquid crystal inside photonic crystals has been explored. On this line of argument, in this paper, we numerically investigate a tunable T-shaped waveguide diplexer, based on a two-dimensional square lattice photonic crystal composed of silicon rods in a liquid crystals. We prove that complete splitting of the entire input wavelengths range in two sub-ranges symmetrical with respect to the middle (switching) wavelength, and propagating in right and left arms respectively, can be achieved. Moreover, changing the refractive index of liquid crystals by electro-optical effect, a tuning of switching wavelength of about 60 nm can be obtained.