Tunable nanojet-induced mode achieved by coupled core-shell microcylinders with nematic liquid crystals

The tunable nanojet-induced mode achieved by coupled core-shell microcylinders with nematic liquid crystals is reported. The optical transmission properties of touching core-shell microcylinders with nematic liquid crystals are studied by using high resolution finite-difference time-domain simulation. We identify two rotation mechanisms of liquid crystal in terms of the coupling efficiency between neighboring core-shell microcylinders. The nanojet-induced guided modes depend strongly on the directors of liquid crystals. The optical transport can be continuously tuned in the core-shell microcylinder by controlling the directors of liquid crystals. The coupled core-shell microcylinders can be assembled inside hollow structures to build tunable optical waveguides for effective and low-loss guiding of photons.