Microwave and Light-Wave Measurements for Nematic-Liquid-Crystal-Loaded Phase Shifter Using Coplanar Waveguide with Floating Electrode

We fabricated an experimental liquid-crystal-loaded coplanar waveguide with a floating electrode (CPW-FE) phase shifter with a straight-line structure and investigated its response time and phase characteristics by performing microwave measurements while varying structural parameters. We also constructed a liquid crystal optical cell using indium–tin-oxide (ITO) glass to simulate the CPW-FE structure and obtained measurements by capturing moving pictures using a polarized microscope. By comparing successive frames of this video and measuring response times to a steady state, we examined the behavior of liquid crystal molecules upon the application of a voltage to the liquid crystal layer. These observations enabled a qualitative physical interpretation of the results obtained by the above microwave measurements.