Electro-optical switch based on a Bragg grating in a liquid crystal waveguide

In this paper an integrated electro-optical switch, designed to operate at the infrared communications wavelength. of 1550 nm, is presented. The device is based on a Bragg grating in-planar waveguide with a bistable smectic C* liquid crystal overlayer, which allows to change the spectral behavior of the device. The principal advantage of this device is its spectral signature, which allows overcoming the problems of intensity dependent switches.