Defect Mode Switching in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal with Nematic Liquid Crystal as Defect Layer

High-speed electrooptic switching based on the tunable defect mode in a one-dimensional photonic crystal containing a nematic liquid crystal defect layer has been demonstrated. The response time of the order of microseconds in this defect mode switching has been realized at low voltage. This high-speed switching originates from the narrow spectral linewidth of the defect mode. With increasing applied voltage V, the rise time decreases in proportion to V-2. The decay time is also of the order of several tens of microseconds.