Wavelength-sensitive thin-film filter-based variable fiber-optic attenuator with an embedded monitoring port

Author

Sumriddetchkajorn, Sarun ; Chaitavon, Khunat

Author_Institution

Electro-Opt. Sect., Nat. Electron. & Comput. Technol. Center, Pathumtani, Thailand

Volume

16

Issue

6

fYear

2004

fDate

6/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1507

Lastpage

1509

Abstract

A wavelength-sensitive three-port variable fiber-optic attenuator (VFOA) is introduced by incorporating the movable optical mirror with a fixed desired thin-film filter (TF). Experimental proof of concept using an off-the-shelf measured 1545.60-nm TF and a mechanically movable mirror shows a low 0.47-dB optical loss, a low polarization-dependent loss of 0.6 dB at maximum optical attenuation setting, and a 15.9-dB dynamic range measured at the output port. Several proposed wavelength-sensitive three-port VFOAs can also be cascaded to form a low cost compact multiwavelength amplitude controller.

Keywords

mirrors; optical attenuators; optical communication equipment; optical fibre filters; optical fibre losses; optical fibre polarisation; optical films; thin film devices; 0.46-dB optical loss; 0.47 dB; 0.6 dB; 1545.60 nm; embedded monitoring port; low-cost compact multiwavelength amplitude controller; mechanically movable mirrors; movable optical mirror; off-the-shelf measured 1545.60-nm thin film filter; optical attenuation setting; polarization-dependent loss; wavelength-division multiplexing; wavelength-sensitive thin-film filter-based variable fiber-optic attenuator; wavelength-sensitive three-port variable fiber-optic attenuator; Attenuation measurement; Loss measurement; Mechanical variables measurement; Mirrors; Monitoring; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber filters; Optical fiber polarization; Optical filters; Transistors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2004.827412

Filename

1300647