High Extinction Ratio Magneto-Optical Fiber Modulator Based on Nanoparticle Magnetic Fluids

Author

Peng Zu ; Chi Chiu Chan ; Wen Siang Lew ; Yongxing Jin ; Hwi Fen Liew ; Li Han Chen ; Wei Chang Wong ; Xinyong Dong

Author_Institution

Sch. of Chem. & Biomed. Eng., Nanyang Technol. Univ., Singapore, Singapore

Volume

4

Issue

4

fYear

2012

Firstpage

1140

Lastpage

1146

Abstract

A novel magneto-optical fiber modulator with a high extinction ratio (ER) based on a polarization interference structure is proposed. A magnetic fluid (MF) film and a section of a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) are inserted into the structure to generate a suitable sinusoidal interference spectrum for light modulation. The MF film leads to a spectrum shift under external magnetic field due to its magnetically controllable birefringence, whereas the PMF is used to control the period of the interference spectrum. In this experiment, magneto-optical modulation with a high ER of 38 dB is demonstrated.

Keywords

birefringence; magnetic fluids; magneto-optical modulation; nanoparticles; optical fibre polarisation; spectral line shift; external magnetic field; extinction ratio; light modulation; magnetic fluid film; magnetically controllable birefringence; magneto-optical fiber modulator; nanoparticle magnetic fluids; polarization interference structure; polarization-maintaining fiber; sinusoidal interference spectrum; spectrum shift; Films; Magnetic fields; Magnetic liquids; Magnetooptic effects; Modulation; Optical fibers; Magneto-optical modulator; extinction ratio; magnetic fluid;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1943-0655

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPHOT.2012.2205233

Filename

6220840