High Dynamic Range Variable Fiber-Optical Attenuator Using Digital Micromirrors and Opto-Fluidics

    Authors

    S. A. Reza;N. A. Riza

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett.

    Keywords

    Digital micromirror device (DMD); microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); optical attenuator; opto-fluidics; OPTICAL ATTENUATOR; DEVICE; Engineering, Electrical & Electronic; Optics; Physics, Applied

    Abstract

    To the best of the authors knowledge, proposed is the first variable fiber-optical attenuator (VFOA) using a digital micromirror device (DMD) and an opto-fluidic electronically controlled variable focus lens (ECVFL). The hybrid VFOA uses individually controllable two-state micromirrors of the DMD and the variable focal length capability of the ECVFL to control the amount of light coupled between two fiber ports leading to a high dynamic range VFOA. The demonstrated VFOA at 1545 nm has a 63.5-dB dynamic range, < 0.1-dB resolution, 0.2-dB polarization-dependent loss, 4.9-dB optical loss, and < 100-ms switching time. Applications for the proposed VFOA include use in test and measurement systems.

    Journal Title

    Ieee Photonics Technology Letters

    Volume

    21

    Issue/Number

    13

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    845

    Last Page

    847

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000267943900007

    ISSN

    1041-1135

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