Center for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 YiKuang Street, Harbin, 150080, P.R. China.
Research Center of Ultra-precision Optoelectronic Instrumentation, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 YiKuang Street, Harbin, 150080, P.R. China.
Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 9;7:44333. doi: 10.1038/srep44333.
Micro/nanophotonic structures that are capable of optical wave-front shaping are implemented in optical waveguides and passive optical devices to alter the phase of the light propagating through them. The beam division directions and beam power distribution depend on the design of the micro/nanostructures. The ultimate potential of advanced micro/nanophotonic structures is limited by their structurally rigid, functional singleness and not tunable against external impact. Here, we propose a thermally induced optical beam-power splitter concept based on a shape memory polystyrene film with programmable micropatterns. The smooth film exhibits excellent transparency with a transmittance of 95% in the visible spectrum and optical stability during a continuous heating process up to 90 °C. By patterning double sided shape memory polystyrene film into erasable and switchable micro-groove gratings, the transmission light switches from one designed light divided directions and beam-power distribution to another because of the optical diffraction effect of the shape changing micro gratings during the whole thermal activated recovery process. The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate a proof-of-principle of the beam-power splitter. Our results can be adapted to further extend the applications of micro/nanophotonic devices and implement new features in the nanophotonics.
微纳光子结构能够实现光波前整形，被应用于光波导和无源光学器件中，以改变光在其中传播的相位。光束的分束方向和功率分布取决于微纳结构的设计。先进的微纳光子结构的最终潜力受到其结构刚性、功能单一性和对外界影响不可调的限制。在这里，我们提出了一种基于具有可编程微图案的形状记忆聚苯乙烯薄膜的热诱导光功率分束器概念。这种光滑的薄膜在可见光范围内具有优异的透明度，透光率为 95%，在连续加热过程中光学稳定性可达 90°C。通过将双面形状记忆聚苯乙烯薄膜图案化为可擦除和可切换的微槽光栅，由于形状变化微光栅在整个热激活恢复过程中的光学衍射效应，传输光从一个设计的分束方向和光束功率分布切换到另一个方向。实验和理论结果证明了功率分束器的原理验证。我们的结果可以进一步扩展微纳光子器件的应用，并在纳米光子学中实现新的功能。
