Optical dynamic gain equalizer using parallel motion type of ELCIA

This paper proposes an optical dynamic gain equalizer (DGEQ) using parallel motion type of ECLIA (Electrostatic Controlled Linear Inchworm Actuator). A slider of ECLIA attenuates an intensity of an optical beam, so that parallel motions of arrayed sliders can control and equalize a spectrum of demultiplexed signals from a grating. A designed optical DGEQ takes the following advantages of ECLIA to provide gain flattening of spectral gain non-uniformities: Precise motion, Large stroke, Parallel motions of arrayed sliders. Through our experiments, ECLIA could attenuate about 20 dB in optical intensity when its slider traveled approximately 380 μm. This paper presents a system design, system performances, and our current research progress toward integrated system.