Temperature and voltage sensing based on a tapered optical fiber device with the liquid crystal cladding

Abstract This paper presents the results of light transmission in a tapered optical fiber surrounded by the cladding formed by a nematic liquid crystal (LC) E7 mixture in a classical LC cell configuration where embedded optical fiber axis is perpendicular, parallel or twist with regard to rubbing directory of the LC orienting layers. The LC cladding effective refractive index is modulated by the electric field. Observations were done for different modulation frequencies of the driving electric field in a temperature range of T = 20–50 °C. Light transmission through the device while driving an LC medium was measured in a broad wavelength range of λ = 500–1000 nm. Spectral characteristics of the transmission, as well as response times (switching on and off), were estimated.