Tunable optical switch using magnetic fluids

H. E. Horng; C. S. Chen; K. L. Fang; S. Y. Yang; J. J. Chieh; Chin Yih Hong; H. C. Yang

doi:10.1063/1.1833564

Tunable optical switch using magnetic fluids

H. E. Horng^*, C. S. Chen, K. L. Fang, S. Y. Yang, J. J. Chieh, Chin Yih Hong, H. C. Yang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

138 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

With a tunable refractive index, magnetic fluid can be applied to the development of adjustable optical devices. In this work, a magnetic-fluid-based optical switch is designed and characterized. The optical switch is formed by sealing magnetic fluid between two glass prisms. When a light is incident to one side of one of the prisms, a reflected light from the magnetic fluid film comes out from the same prism, whereas a transmitted light through the film emits from the other prism. It was found that the intensity ratio of the reflected light to the transmitted light can be manipulated by varying the external magnetic field strength. This implies that the light intensity can be switched between two paths. The switching efficiency also depends on the incident angle of a light into the prism. We then theoretically derive the incident-angle dependent switching efficiency to clarify relevant physical mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5592-5594
Number of pages	3
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	85
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1833564
Publication status	Published - 2004 Dec 6

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.1833564

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title = "Tunable optical switch using magnetic fluids",

abstract = "With a tunable refractive index, magnetic fluid can be applied to the development of adjustable optical devices. In this work, a magnetic-fluid-based optical switch is designed and characterized. The optical switch is formed by sealing magnetic fluid between two glass prisms. When a light is incident to one side of one of the prisms, a reflected light from the magnetic fluid film comes out from the same prism, whereas a transmitted light through the film emits from the other prism. It was found that the intensity ratio of the reflected light to the transmitted light can be manipulated by varying the external magnetic field strength. This implies that the light intensity can be switched between two paths. The switching efficiency also depends on the incident angle of a light into the prism. We then theoretically derive the incident-angle dependent switching efficiency to clarify relevant physical mechanisms.",

author = "Horng, {H. E.} and Chen, {C. S.} and Fang, {K. L.} and Yang, {S. Y.} and Chieh, {J. J.} and Hong, {Chin Yih} and Yang, {H. C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by National Science Council of ROC under Grant Nos. NSC93-2120-M-003-001, NSC93-2112-M-003-017, NSC93-2112-M-003-007, and NSC92-2212-E-212-011, and partially supported by the Ministry of Education of ROC under the Grant No. 91-N-FA01-2-4-2.",

year = "2004",

month = dec,

day = "6",

doi = "10.1063/1.1833564",

language = "English",

volume = "85",

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AU - Horng, H. E.

AU - Chen, C. S.

AU - Fang, K. L.

AU - Yang, S. Y.

AU - Chieh, J. J.

AU - Hong, Chin Yih

AU - Yang, H. C.

N1 - Funding Information: This work is supported by National Science Council of ROC under Grant Nos. NSC93-2120-M-003-001, NSC93-2112-M-003-017, NSC93-2112-M-003-007, and NSC92-2212-E-212-011, and partially supported by the Ministry of Education of ROC under the Grant No. 91-N-FA01-2-4-2.

PY - 2004/12/6

Y1 - 2004/12/6

N2 - With a tunable refractive index, magnetic fluid can be applied to the development of adjustable optical devices. In this work, a magnetic-fluid-based optical switch is designed and characterized. The optical switch is formed by sealing magnetic fluid between two glass prisms. When a light is incident to one side of one of the prisms, a reflected light from the magnetic fluid film comes out from the same prism, whereas a transmitted light through the film emits from the other prism. It was found that the intensity ratio of the reflected light to the transmitted light can be manipulated by varying the external magnetic field strength. This implies that the light intensity can be switched between two paths. The switching efficiency also depends on the incident angle of a light into the prism. We then theoretically derive the incident-angle dependent switching efficiency to clarify relevant physical mechanisms.

AB - With a tunable refractive index, magnetic fluid can be applied to the development of adjustable optical devices. In this work, a magnetic-fluid-based optical switch is designed and characterized. The optical switch is formed by sealing magnetic fluid between two glass prisms. When a light is incident to one side of one of the prisms, a reflected light from the magnetic fluid film comes out from the same prism, whereas a transmitted light through the film emits from the other prism. It was found that the intensity ratio of the reflected light to the transmitted light can be manipulated by varying the external magnetic field strength. This implies that the light intensity can be switched between two paths. The switching efficiency also depends on the incident angle of a light into the prism. We then theoretically derive the incident-angle dependent switching efficiency to clarify relevant physical mechanisms.

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Tunable optical switch using magnetic fluids

Abstract

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