Liquid-crystal-deflector based variable fiber-optic attenuator

    Authors

    N. A. Riza;S. A. Khan

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Appl. Optics

    Keywords

    OPTICAL ATTENUATOR; Optics

    Abstract

    A compact, low-component-count, no-moving-parts variable optical attenuator (VOA) is demonstrated for the first time by means of beam spoiling that is implemented via an electrically reconfigurable nonpixelated nematic liquid-crystal deflector. The VOA design features an in-line alignment polarization-insensitive design that does not use bulky polarization splitting and combining optics. The proof-of-concept VOA at 1550 nm demonstrates a 30-dB attenuation range, a 2.5-dB insertion loss, a less than or equal to0.8-dB polarization-dependent loss, and a 1-s maximum attenuation reset time. The VOA design can counter performance-reducing environmental effects such as excess-loss increases due to temperature variations. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.

    Journal Title

    Applied Optics

    Volume

    43

    Issue/Number

    17

    Publication Date

    1-1-2004

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    3449

    Last Page

    3455

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000221920600011

    ISSN

    1559-128X

    Share

    COinS