Singular photonics based on liquid crystal topological defects

E. Brasselet (1) , C. Loussert (1)

1 LOMA - Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine

Here we report on the use of liquid crystal topological defects for photonic applications that involve optical singularities. The well-dened molecular organization around a liquid crystal defect enables the coupling between the spin and the orbital angular momentum of light. Such an optical spin-orbit coupling is a general feature of light propagation through inhomogeneous or anisotropic media, which makes liquid crystal topological defects attractive micro-structures when orbital angular momentum of light is the key ingredient of an application.

Domaines: Physique [physics]

E. Brasselet, C. Loussert. Singular photonics based on liquid crystal topological defects. Conference on Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices/SPIE Smart Nano + Micro Materials and Devices Forum, Dec 2011, Melbourne, Australia. ⟨10.1117/12.904255⟩. ⟨hal-01555376⟩