Research on Multimedia Photonic Switching System

本研究旨在利用铁电液晶的高速开关特性，研制一种新型的小型化多通道光开关。研究了光开关在多媒体信息通信网络中的光交换系统中的潜在应用。研究重点是以下四个主题，并取得了以下成果。一种新的多通道光开关结构研究了一种实现小型化和多通道光开关的结构，提出了一种由液晶偏振控制元件和平面光学元件组成的新型集成结构.利用铁电液晶材料研制偏振控制元件对倾斜入射光为45 °的液晶板进行了理论和实验研究。已经开发出在0.85 μ m和1.3 μ m波长下工作的偏振控制元件.偏振控制光开关的研制这种新结构的可行性已通过研制0.85 μ m和1.3 μ m波长的液晶偏振控制元件的2 × 2光开关得到证实.利用研制的2 × 2光开关和高速光开关的开关功能，进行了光子交换系统的基础实验。本研究确定了液晶多通道光开关的基本概念，下一步的研究工作将包括建立液晶偏振控制元件的设计理论，倾斜入射光角度和光开关的发展可以容纳大量的光通道。

This research aims at to develop a new compact-size multichannel optical switch based on thehigh-speed switching characteristics of ferroelectric liquid crystals. It also investigates the potential application of developed optical switch to photonic switching systems in multimedia information communication networks. The research has focused on the following four topics and achieved results as described below.1. A new configuration for the multicahnnel optical switchStudy on a switch configuration to achieve compact size and multichannel switching capability has been investigated and a new integrated structure composed with liquid crystal polarization control elements and planar optical components has been proposed.2. Development of polarization control elements using ferroelectric liquid crystal materialTheoretical and experimental study on a liquid crystal panel with a 45ﾟ tilted incident light have been done. Polarization control elements which operates at 0.85 mu m and 1.3 mum wavelengths have been developed.3. Developement of polarization controlled optical switchFeasiblity of the new configuration has been confirmed by the development of 2*2 optical switch using liquid crystal polarization controlled elements at 0.85 mu m and 1.3 mum wavelengths.4. Fundamental experiment of photonic swithcing systemFundamental experiment of photonic swithcing system has been done using the developed 2*2 optical switch and the switching function of high-speed optical digital signals has been confirmed.Basic concept of a multichannel optical switch using liquid crystal elements has been confirmedby this research and the next step research will include the establishment of design theory ofthe LC polariation control elements with tilted incident light anlge and the development of optical switchhat can accomodate a large number of optical channels.