Title :
Design and modeling of passive optical switches and power dividers using non-planar coupled fiber arrays
Author :
Hudgings, Janice ; Molter, Lynne ; Dutta, Mitra
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Mount Holyoke Coll., South Hadley, MA, USA
Abstract :
Arrays of coupled waveguides such as the ubiquitous directional coupler are used extensively in optoelectronic devices, with demonstrated applications to optical communications networks, fiber interferometers, and optical homodyne receivers. In order to analyze the transmission characteristics of circular arrays of coupled optical fibers, we have developed a matrix representation of the coupled-mode formalism, allowing for varying fiber diameters and differing coupling strengths between the fibers in the array. The model is used to identify design criteria for application of such arrays as passive optical switches and power dividers.
Keywords :
coupled mode analysis; light interferometers; optical arrays; optical communication equipment; optical fibre couplers; optical switches; power dividers; circular arrays; coupled optical fibers; coupled waveguide arrays; coupled-mode formalism; coupling strengths; design criteria; fiber interferometers; matrix representation; non-planar coupled fiber arrays; optical communications networks; optical homodyne receivers; optoelectronic devices; passive optical switch design models; passive optical switches; power dividers; transmission characteristics; ubiquitous directional coupler; varying fiber diameters; Optical arrays; Optical coupling; Optical design; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Power dividers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
