Title :
Variable and rotatable waveplates of PLZT electrooptic ceramic material on planar waveguide circuits
Author :
Hirabayashi, K. ; Amano, C.
Author_Institution :
NTT Photonics Labs., Kanagawa, Japan
fDate :
7/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We have applied the (Pb/sub 1-x/La/sub x/)(Zr/sub y/Ti/sub z/)/sub 1-x/4/O3 (PLZT) electro-optic ceramic material to produce variable and rotatable waveplates for polarization controls. This plate has a 90 μm×90 μm window between four sides. Each of the four sides is coated with a material that acts as an electrode. The plate is inserted in a trench across an array of parallel optical waveguides. A single PLZT waveplate of this type was capable of continuous and complete conversion. This requires the control of only two parameters, the direction and strength of the applied voltage. The device is fast with a response time of only 1 μs.
Keywords :
ceramics; electro-optical devices; electrodes; lanthanum compounds; lead compounds; optical communication equipment; optical fibre polarisation; optical polarisers; 1 mus; 90 micron; PLZT; PLZT electrooptic ceramic material; PLZT waveplate; PbLaZrO3TiO3; applied voltage; electro-optic ceramic material; electrode; parallel optical waveguide array; planar lightwave circuit; planar waveguide circuits; polarization control; response time; variable rotatable waveplates; Ceramics; Electric variables control; Electrodes; Optical arrays; Optical materials; Optical polarization; Optical retarders; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Zirconium;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2002.1012397
