A MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator with Ultra-Low Wavelength-Dependent Loss and Polarization-Dependent Loss

Micromachines

Wei Zhou¹  Huangqingbo Sun²  Zijing Zhang²  Zhujun Wan² 

[1] AOFSS (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518103, China;School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China;

关键词: variable optical attenuator (VOA);    wavelength dependent loss (WDL);    polarization dependent loss (PDL);    micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS);   

DOI  :  10.3390/mi9120632

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Applications in broadband optical fiber communication system need variable optical attenuators (VOAs) with low wavelength-dependent loss (WDL). Based on analysis on the dispersion of the optical system of a MEMS-based VOA, we provide a method to reduce the WDL significantly with minor revision on the end-face angle of the collimating lens. Two samples are assembled, and the measured WDL is <0.4 dB over the C-band (1.53⁻1.57 μm) at a 0⁻20 dB attenuation range. Meanwhile, the new structure helps to reduce the polarization-dependent loss (PDL) to <0.15 dB, which is only half that of conventional devices.

【 授权许可】

Unknown