Variable optical attenuator for large-scale integration

Author

Garner, Sean M. ; Caracci, Steve

Author_Institution

Org. Technol., Corning Inc., NY, USA

Volume

14

Issue

11

fYear

2002

Firstpage

1560

Lastpage

1562

Abstract

A polymer thermooptic variable optical attenuator (VOA) was designed and demonstrated for dense waveguide device integration. The waveguide bend design is compatible with photolithography fabrication techniques and operates by controlling waveguide bend radiation loss. The design optimizes the compromise between integration capability, integration cost, and attenuation efficiency. For a 5 mm bend length, optical attenuation of >40 dB has been achieved with an applied electrical power of 250 mW. The fiber-to-fiber insertion loss was 1.5 dB for a 20-mm total waveguide length. The design´s compact size makes it practical for both VOA arrays and dense integrated optical circuits.

Keywords

integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; optical communication equipment; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical losses; optical polymers; photolithography; thermo-optical effects; waveguide discontinuities; 1.5 dB; 20 mm; 250 mW; 40 dB; 5 mm; VOA arrays; applied electrical power; attenuation efficiency; bend length; compact size; dense integrated optical circuits; dense waveguide device integration; fiber-to-fiber insertion loss; integration capability; integration cost; large-scale integration; optical attenuation; photolithography fabrication; polymer thermooptic variable optical attenuator design; total waveguide length; variable optical attenuator; waveguide bend design; waveguide bend radiation loss; Large scale integration; Lithography; Optical arrays; Optical attenuators; Optical design; Optical device fabrication; Optical polymers; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Thermooptical devices;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2002.803333

Filename

1042002