Reversible All-Optical Modulation Based on Evanescent Wave Absorption of a Single-Mode Fiber With Azo-Polymer Overlay

Author

Tian, Xiujie ; Cheng, Xusheng ; Wu, Wenxuan ; Luo, Yanhua ; Zhang, Qijin ; Zhu, Bing ; Zou, Gang

Author_Institution

Dept. of Polymer Sci. & Eng., Univ. of Sci. & Technol. of China, Hefei, China

Volume

22

Issue

18

fYear

2010

Firstpage

1352

Lastpage

1354

Abstract

An etched single-mode fiber with azo-polymer overlay is made by the chemical etching method. The fiber´s cylindrical symmetry is maintained and the refractive index of the azo-polymer is controlled to be lower than that of the fiber to keep the waveguide structure. By altering the refractive index of the azo-polymer in course of its photoisomerization, the evanescent wave absorption is controlled, based on the penetration depth changing of the evanescent wave, and eventually modulates the optical power transmitted though the fiber. Under cyclical irradiation of UV light and visible light, reversible modulation of the transmitted optical power at 1550 nm is achieved.

Keywords

etching; isomerisation; optical fibre fabrication; optical modulation; optical polymers; photochemistry; refractive index; UV light; azo-polymer overlay; chemical etching method; etched single mode fiber; evanescent wave absorption; fiber cylindrical symmetry; photoisomerization; refractive index; reversible all optical modulation; reversible modulation; visible light; wavelength 1550 nm; Chemicals; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Etching; Optical control; Optical modulation; Optical refraction; Optical surface waves; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Refractive index; Azo-polymer; etched fiber; evanescent wave absorption; photoisomerization;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2010.2056362

Filename

5504119