Methods of creation and optimization of anisotropic liquid-crystal photonic structures

In this paper the techniques to create the liquid-crystal (LC) photonic structures with the controllable configuration of anisotropy are proposed. The regularities in propagation and transformation of the light beams in such structures are analyzed. Experimental implementation of the waveguide propagation and signal multiplexing regimes based on the total internal reflection of radiation from the electrically controlled interface of two LC regions with planar orthogonal orientation of the director, and also the formation of waveguide channels due to the graded index distribution on application of the voltage to the LC cell electrodes is described.