Title :
Complete switching in a three-terminal Sagnac switch
Author :
Avramopoulos, H. ; French, P.M.W. ; Gabriel, M.C. ; Houh, H.H. ; Whitaker, N.A., Jr. ; Morse, T.
Author_Institution :
AT&T Bell Lab., Holmdel, NJ, USA
fDate :
3/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A three-terminal all-optical fiber switch based on a fiber Sagnac interferometer is described. The use of polarization components allows the construction of a switch in which the control beam and signal beam are isolated (i.e. the device is three terminal) and which is cascadable (the device output can drive its inputs). The interaction length need not be limited by the walkoff length in the fiber, as cross-splices can be made in the birefringent fiber to permit multiple passes. Contrast ratios as high as 40:1 have been demonstrated in a switch driven by an amplified laser diode.<>
Keywords :
fibre optics; light interferometers; light polarisation; optical communication equipment; optical switches; all-optical fiber switch; amplified laser diode; birefringent fiber; cascadable; contrast ratios; control beam; cross-splices; fiber Sagnac interferometer; interaction length; multiple passes; optical isolation; optical pumping; optical switches; polarization components; signal beam; three-terminal Sagnac switch; walkoff length; Birefringence; Nonlinear optics; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical switches; Pulse shaping methods; Sagnac interferometers; Structural beams;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
