Wavelength-tunable variable fiber-optic attenuator using liquid-crystal-mirror hybrid controls

    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

    IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett.

    Keywords

    fiber optics; liquid crystals (LCs); microelectromechanical systems; variable optical attenuator (VOA); Engineering, Electrical & Electronic; Optics; Physics, Applied

    Abstract

    Fiber-optic module is proposed using a hybrid liquid-crystal (LC)-mirror mechanics beam control mechanism that provides the dual functions of optical attenuation controls and wavelength selection with a high degree of sensitivity, all within one compact in-line module. The experimental module uses an LC deflector and a mechanically tuned bulk mirror as the hybrid optics. The module demonstrates a 1520-1570-nm coarse tuning range, a 1.44-nm fine tuning range, a > 30-dB attenuation range, a 3.7-dB optical insertion loss, < 0.1-dB polarization-dependent loss, and a full-width at half-maximum wavelength resolution of less than or equal to 0.3 nm. Module applications include tunable gain controlled optical transmitters and receivers.

    Journal Title

    Ieee Photonics Technology Letters

    Volume

    17

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    621

    Last Page

    623

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000227138400035

    ISSN

    1041-1135

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