Demonstration of superprism effect in silicon pillar 2-D photonic crystal infiltrated with liquid crystals

Superprism-based deflection of an optical beam is observed in a photonic crystal composed of a triangular lattice of pillars infiltrated with a liquid crystal. The device is based on a Silicon-on-insulator substrate and operates in the telecommunications band. The experimental results show a wavelength shift of 0.76 μm/nm, in reasonable agreement with simulations. Temperature-based control of the liquid crystal properties is also shown to modulate the superprism characteristics.