Liquid-Core/Liquid-Cladding Optical Waveguide by Dielectrophoresis

摘要

@@Here we report an electrically definable and reconfigurable liquid-core/liquid cladding (L2) optical waveguide driven by dielectrophoresis (DEP) without continuously pumped microfluids. The waveguide consists of a high permittivity and high refractive index core liquid (y-butyrolactone, e = 41.65, n = 1.442) driven in a low permittivity and low refractive index cladding liquid (20 cSt silicone oil, s = 2.5, n = 1.401). The DEP-driven core liquid represents the advantage of the smooth liquid-liquid interface, while after waveguide formation, the stationary core and cladding liquids would further eliminate the scattering losses caused by liquid flowing. We demonstrated light transmission on arbitrary waveguides defined by DEP electric fields. The propagation loss of the waveguides was also studied with dyed core liquids. An optical switch by shifting the DEP-formed waveguide among an electrode array was further demonstrated.