Multidirectional switching behavior by transversely stretching a composite cholesteric elastomer.

Abstract

We have analyzed the propagation of electromagnetic waves impinging obliquely in a hybrid material, made by a cholesteric elastomer slab with spherical metallic inclusions randomly located in the host material. We have carried out an analytical and numerical model which permits us to obtain the reflection and transmission spectra when the system is submitted to a mechanical stress applied transversely to the cholesteric axis. We have demonstrated that for a large interval of angles of incidence, it can be observed a switching behavior from a discriminatory circular filter to a polarization independent device. The sample also exhibits regions of transformation from right to left circularly polarized waves in the reflection spectra, which are intercalated with zones of similar transmission of both circularly polarized waves.