Beam steering by liquid crystal elastomer fibres.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Materials Science
• Telecommunications Engineering

Background:

• Laser beam utilization for information transfer is crucial in telecommunications.
• Current methods for optical signal switching involve complex devices like MEMS mirrors and SLMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a simple, optically driven beam steering device.
• To demonstrate a novel method for laser beam redirection using liquid crystal elastomers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fibers capable of rotation and contraction.
• Utilizing a mirror attached to an LCE fiber as a remotely controlled beam steerer.
• Applying selective light stimuli to control fiber rotation and laser beam deflection angle.

Main Results:

• The LCE fiber-based device successfully steered laser beams in all in-plane directions.
• Precise control over fiber rotation and deflection angle was achieved by adjusting light stimulus power.
• The beam steering mechanism demonstrated perfect reversibility upon stimulus removal.

Conclusions:

• A simple, light-activated LCE fiber device offers an effective solution for optical beam steering.
• This technology presents a promising, remotely controllable alternative to complex existing methods for telecommunication signal routing.
• The reversible nature of the LCE fiber movement enhances its potential for practical applications.