Switchable optical element with Bragg mode diffraction.

A theoretical model of a new electronically switchable grating design that uses a multilayer structure of an electro-optic (EO) material with an interdigitated-electrode type of array is proposed as an original technique for calculating the induced refractive index. It is shown that asymmetrical distribution of the electric field induces a slanted Bragg grating, which allows the slant angle to be switched electronically among more than two switching states. Parameters of the suggested design are calculated for a number of EO materials. A special case of frequency-based switching is anticipated for some polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal materials.