Optical free-space multichannel switches composed of liquid-crystal light-modulator arrays and birefringent crystals

Transparent optical multichannel switches composed of liquid-crystal light modulator arrays and polarization beam routers composed of birefringent crystals are reported. For suppressing diffraction loss and stabilizing loss property, lens waveguide arrays are established in the switch body by inserting Fresnel lenslet arrays. The highly improved loss and crosstalk properties of the switch are confirmed.