Electrically switchable polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials including switchable optical couplers and reconfigurable optical interconnects

A method for recording slanted reflection gratings, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a sample between a first and second glass prism;
• the sample comprising:
• a polymerizable monomer;
• a liquid crystal;
• a chain-extending monomer;
• a coinitiator;
• and
• a photoinitiator;
• splitting an incident light into two beams, wherein the beams enter the sample from opposite sides;
• and
• rotating the first and second prism to adjust the slant of the grating.

A method for forming a slanted grating, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing overlapping first and second incident beams through a prism assembly towards a sample,
• wherein the angle of incidence of the first beam is different from the angle of incidence of the second beam and wherein the incident beams enter the sample from the same side,
• wherein the prism assembly comprises a first and a second prism and is substantially disposed on the surface of the sample, and
• wherein the sample comprises:
• a polymerizable monomer;
• a liquid crystal;
• a chain-extending monomer;
• a coinitiator;
• and
• a photoinitiator.

A transmission grating comprising:

• a plurality of alternating polymer planes and polymer dispersed liquid crystal planes disposed perpendicular to the front surface of the transmission grating;
• and
• an optical axis disposed perpendicular to the plurality of alternating polymer planes and polymer dispersed liquid crystal planes;
• wherein the combined thickness of a polymer plane and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal plane is substantially less than an optical wavelength.