Foreword. Series Editor's Foreword. Preface. 1. Liquid crystal physics.* Introduction.* Thermodynamics and statistic physics.* Orientational order.* Elastic properties of liquid crystals.* Response of liquid crystals to electro-magnetic fields.* Anchoring effects of nematic liquid crystal at surfaces. 2. Propagation of light in anisotropic optical medium.* Electromagnetic wave.* Polarization.* Propagation of light in uniform anisotropic optical media.* Propagation of light in cholesteric liquid crystals. 3. Optical modeling methods.* Jones matrix method.* Mueller matrix method.* Berreman 4x4 method. 4. Effects of Electric field on Liquid Crystals.* Dielectric interaction.* Flexoelectric Effect.* Ferroelectricity in liquid crystals. 5. Freedericksz transition.* Calculus of variation.* The Fredeericksz transition: statics.* The Freedericksz transition: dynamics. 6. Liquid Crystal Materials.* Introduction.* Refractive indices.* Dielectric constants.* Rotational Viscosity.* Elastic constant.* Figure-of-merits.* Refractive index matching between liquid crystals and polymers. 7. Modeling of liquid crystal director configuration.* Electric energy of liquid crystals.* Modeling electric field.* Simulation of liquid crystal director configuration. 8. Transmissive liquid crystal display.* Introduction.* Twisted nematic cells.* In plane switching (IPS) mode.* Vertical alignment (VA) mode.* Multi-domain Vertical Alignment (MVA) Cells.* Optically compensated bend (OCB) cell. 9. Reflective and Trasreflective display.* Introduction.* Reflective liquid crystal displays.* Transflector.* Classification of Transflective LCDs.* Dual-cell-gap Transflective LCDs.* Single-cell-gap Transflective LCDs.* Performance of transflective LCDs. 10. Liquid crystal display matrices, drive schemes and bistable displays.* Segmented displays.* Passive matrix displays and drive scheme.* Active Matrix Displays.* Bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal displays and drive scheme.* Bistable nematic displays.* Bistable cholesteric reflective display. 11. Liquid crystal/polymer composites. * Introduction.* Phase separation.* Scattering properties of liquid crystal/polymer composites.* Polymer dispersed liquid crystals.* Polymer stabilization liquid crystals.* Displays from liquid crystal/polymer composites. 12. Tunable liquid crystal photonic devices. * Introduction.* Laser beam steering.* Variable Optical Attenuators.* Tunable-Focus Lens.* Polarization-Independent LC Devices. Index.

Fundamentals of Liquid Crystal Devices

The finite-element method (FEM) is a full-wave numerical method that discretizes the variational of a functional. The evolution of this method within the scope of electromagnetics traces back to the solving of two classes of problems, namely, the eigenmode problems and the deterministic problems. If we try to use some examples to illustrate the most typical and the most complete techniques with the most complete solution, the eigenmode problem of a dielectrically loaded waveguide and the wave propagation in a three-dimensional (3D) discontinuous waveguide are good candidates representing the eigenmode and the closed-domain solutions, respectively. As for the open-domain scattering problem and radiating problems, the authors consider the essential and key parts are presented in solving the 3D scattering problems. For this reason, we will illustrate the theoretical basics, the critical solving techniques and the typical skills involved in FEM through solving of the above three specific problems. At the end of this chapter, we will also briefly review the FEM solution for some other problems.

Finite-Element Method

Numerical Techniques in Electromagnetics is designed to show the reader how to pose, numerically analyze, and solve electromagnetic (EM) problems. It gives them the ability to expand their problem-solving skills using a variety of available numerical methods. Topics covered include fundamental concepts in EM; numerical methods; finite difference methods; variational methods, including moment methods and finite element methods; transmission-line matrix or modeling (TLM); and Monte Carlo methods. The simplicity of presentation of topics throughout the book makes this an ideal text for teaching or self-study by senior undergraduates, graduate students, and practicing engineers.

Numerical Techniques in Electromagnetics, Second Edition

Coaxial line reflection methods for measuring dielectric properties of biological materials at radio (RF) and microwave (MF) frequencies are reviewed and compared from the point of view of their relative uncertainties of measurement of lossy substances with high dielectric constant. Advantages and limitations of different methods and some practical recommendations are presented.

Coaxial Line Reflection Methods for Measuring Dielectric Properties of Biological Substances at Radio and Microwave Frequencies-A Review

A finite-difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM) is outlined and assessed in comparison with a conventional beam propagation method (FFT-BPM) which uses fast Fourier transformation. In the comparative study three straight waveguides with different index profiles that are frequently encountered in integrated optics are utilized. Using both methods normalized effective index values of the eigenmodes of these waveguides are calculated and compared with the exact values obtained from analytical expressions. As a further accuracy criterion, the power loss due to numerical errors when an eigenmode of a waveguide is excited is evaluated. Based on this comparison the accuracy, computational efficiency, and stability of the FD-BPM are assessed. >

An assessment of finite difference beam propagation method

A vector H -field finite-element method has been used for the solution of optical waveguide problems. The permittivity of the guiding structures can be an arbitrarily tensor, only limited to being lossless. To extend the domain of the field representation, infinite elements have been introduced. To eliminate spurious solutions and to improve eigenvectors, a penalty function method has been introduced. To show the validity and usefulness of this formulation, computed results are illustrated for step channel waveguide, diffused channel waveguide, anisotropic channel waveguide, and channel waveguide directional couplers.

Finite-element solution of integrated optical waveguides

A vector H-field formulation is developed for electromagnetic wave propagation for a wide range of guided-wave problems. It is capable of solving microwave or optical waveguide problems with arbitrarily anisotropic materials. We have introduced infinite elements to extend the region of explicit field representation to infirdly, to consider open-type waveguides more accurately. Computed results are given for a variety of optical planar guides, image lines, and waveguides containing skew anisotropic dielectic.

Finite-Element Analysis of Optical and Microwave Waveguide Problems

The finite element method is a well-established method for the solution of a wide range of guided wave problems. One drawback associated with the powerful vector formulation is the appearance of spurious or nonphysical solutions. A penalty function method has been introduced to the finite element formulation, to reduce or eliminate spurious solutions. It also improves the quality of the physical field solutions. The method has been applied for the solution of metallic homogeneous and inhomogeneous guides, and integrated optics guides.

Penalty Function Improvement of Waveguide Solution by Finite Elements

The authors review the application of the finite element method to analysis of waveguide problems. They discuss the significance of different variational formulations, the modeling of the infinite domain of open-boundary waveguides, techniques to avoid spurious solutions, and matrix solution techniques. They briefly refer to the application of these techniques to waveguides containing nonlinear materials and to three-dimensional problems. >

Review of finite element methods for microwave and optical waveguides

A novel approach for analyzing discontinuity problems in optical waveguides is presented. The method is a combination of the vector-finite-element method and the least-squares boundary residual method. The vector-H-field-finite-element method is capable of providing accurate eigenvalues and eigenvectors for a wide range of optical waveguide problems, including arbitrary shape, arbitrary index distribution, and anisotropic materials. The least-squares boundary residual method matches the continuity of tangential fields in the least-squares sense, taking into account many modes at the discontinuity plane, to give the general scattering matrix. A few results are presented to show the usefulness of the approach. >

J.B. Davies

Papers

Finite-element solution of integrated optical waveguides

Finite-Element Analysis of Optical and Microwave Waveguide Problems

Penalty Function Improvement of Waveguide Solution by Finite Elements

Review of finite element methods for microwave and optical waveguides

Analysis of optical waveguide discontinuities