Mach–Zehnder Interferometric Switch Utilizing Faraday Rotation

Author

Bahuguna, Rashmi ; Mina, Mani ; Weber, Robert J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA

Volume

43

Issue

6

fYear

2007

fDate

6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2680

Lastpage

2682

Abstract

An all-fiber interferometric switch based on Faraday rotation exhibited by magneto-optic materials in the presence of an external magnetic field is reported. The interferometer is Mach-Zehnder type and the related phase shift was obtained by the rotation of the state of polarization of a linearly polarized optical signal. The operation of the switch is demonstrated experimentally. The effect of the optical beam size on the achievable Faraday rotation is also investigated. Hysteresis is avoided as the magnetic field required for switching is much lower than the saturation field

Keywords

Faraday effect; Mach-Zehnder interferometers; magneto-optical devices; optical fibre polarisation; optical rotation; optical switches; Faraday rotation; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; all-fiber switch; hysteresis; interferometric switch; linear polarization; magnetooptic materials; optical beam size effect; optical switching; phase shift; polarization state rotation; saturation field; Magnetic fields; Magnetic materials; Magnetic switching; Magnetooptic effects; Optical interferometry; Optical materials; Optical polarization; Optical saturation; Optical switches; Phase shifting interferometry; All-fiber devices; Faraday rotation; Mach–Zehnder interferometer; fiber-based magneto-optics; optical beam size; optical switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2007.893319

Filename

4202653