Tunable wavelength filter using nano-sized droplets of liquid crystal dispersed in a polymer

Abstract

Fabry-Perot etalon type tunable wavelength-selective filter comprises: a first layer including a transparent electrode and an optical mirror layer; a third layer including a transparent electrode and an optical mirror layer; and a second layer which is composed of a material with a refractive index variable with electric field, and sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer, wherein the material having a refractive index variable with electric field is composed by dispersing liquid crystal droplets equal to or less than 150 nm in diameter in a light transmissive characteristic medium such as a polymer or silica glass, and by adding plasticizer therein. In this structure, the optical mirror layer consists of a dielectric multilayer mirror with an optical reflectance of equal to or more than 95% for 1.5 &mgr;m wavelength light, and the glass substrate has a finishing surface precision of equal to or less than &lgr;/10, where &lgr; is a wavelength of light that traverses the tunable wavelength-selective filter.