Authors

S. Xu; H. Ren; J. Sun;S. T. Wu

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Opt. Express

Keywords

VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR; FAST-RESPONSE; SWITCH; LENS; LIGHT; Optics

Abstract

A polarization independent variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on a dielectrically stretched liquid crystal (LC) droplet is demonstrated. In the voltage-off state, the proposed VOA has the smallest attenuation. As voltage increases, the LC droplet is stretched by a dielectrophoretic force, which gradually deflects the beam leading to an increased attenuation. Such a VOA can cover the entire C-Band. At lambda = 1550 nm, the following results are obtained: dynamic range similar to 32 dB, insertion loss similar to 0.7 dB, polarization dependent loss similar to 0.3 dB, and response time similar to 20 ms.

Journal Title

Optics Express

Volume

20

Issue/Number

15

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

17059

Last Page

17064

WOS Identifier

WOS:000307055800091

ISSN

1094-4087

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