Submicrosecond speed variable optical attenuator using acoustooptics

Author

Riza, Nabeel A. ; Yaqoob, Zahid

Author_Institution

Lab. of Photonic Inf. Process. Syst., Central Florida Univ., Orlando, FL, USA

Volume

13

Issue

7

fYear

2001

fDate

7/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

693

Lastpage

695

Abstract

A novel variable optical attenuator (VOA) is introduced that can provide high dynamic range and high-resolution all at fast submicrosecond speeds. The VOA design exploits an in-line one-to-one imaging optical architecture operating with Bragg-mode acoustooptic Bragg cells. Optical attenuation is achieved via frequency and drive voltage control of the Bragg cells, leading to flexible and precise attenuation-level settings. VOA demonstrated a 45-dB dynamic range with a 175-ns switching time. Other measured parameters include 1.14-dB/MHz resolution, 1.56-dB polarization dependent loss, and an excess loss of 3.55 dB.

Keywords

Bragg gratings; acousto-optical devices; electro-optical devices; high-speed optical techniques; optical communication equipment; optical losses; 1.56 dB; 175 ns; 3.55 dB; Bragg-mode acoustooptic Bragg cells; VOA design; acoustooptics; attenuation-level settings; drive voltage control; excess loss; fast submicrosecond speeds; high dynamic range; high-resolution; in-line one-to-one imaging optical architecture; ns switching tim; optical attenuation; polarization dependent loss; submicrosecond speed variable optical attenuator; Dynamic range; Frequency; High-resolution imaging; Loss measurement; Optical attenuators; Optical design; Optical imaging; Optical losses; Optical polarization; Voltage control;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.930417

Filename

930417