Switchable photonic crystal cavity by liquid crystal infiltration

We report on the fabrication and optical characterization of a switchable photonic crystal nanocavity actuated by liquid crystals. This device acts as a filter presenting a transmission peak around the telecom wavelength λ = 1550 nm. Passing from the isotropic to the anisotropic (oriented crystals) state of the liquid crystals, a shift of Δλ = 13 nm has been measured, which confirms the theoretical predictions obtained by finite difference time domain simulations. We have developed a photonic crystal nanocavity that can be tuned thanks to the properties of liquid crystals infiltrated in the holes of the photonic device.