Compact evanescent optical switch and attenuator with electromechanical actuation

Author

Chollet, Franck ; de Labachelerie, M. ; Fujita, Hiroyuki

Author_Institution

LIMMS/CNRS-IIS, Tokyo Univ., Japan

Volume

5

Issue

1

fYear

1999

Firstpage

52

Lastpage

59

Abstract

We report the design and the realization of an out-of-plane bending structure supporting a waveguide that is used as an optical attenuator and an optical switch. Both devices are based on evanescent field interaction induced by spatial confinement either between two waveguides or between one waveguide and an absorbing medium. The attenuator exhibits typical attenuation of 65 dB/cm. Even if the bad quality of the waveguide has prevented the correct operation of the switch, we show that the attenuation figure establishes the feasibility of a compact evanescent optical coupler with mechanical drive featuring a total length below 1 mm

Keywords

micro-optics; optical couplers; optical switches; waveguide attenuators; MEOMS device; bending structure; compact evanescent optical switch; electromechanical actuation; mechanical drive; optical attenuator; waveguide coupler; Message-oriented middleware; Optical attenuators; Optical coupling; Optical crosstalk; Optical devices; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical surface waves; Optical switches; Optical waveguides;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2944.748105

Filename

748105