Engineering liquid crystals for optimal uses in optical communication systems

Liquid crystal technology has become, nowadays, one of the core technologies for implementing optical functions for WDM networks. Their advantage, with respect to other materials, is their unequalled engineering capability which is nowadays decisive in providing more flexible and cost effective systems. First, we briefly review the main driving physical features determining their optical and dynamic behaviour, illustrated through various pure or composite liquid crystal materials. Second, we discuss their suitability for use in some telecommunication requirements. Finally we give examples illustrating the huge variety of their possible effects, in particular when engineered with polymer chains.