Extensible chip of optofluidic variable optical attenuator

Abstract

A core chip of optofluidic variable optical attenuator (VOA) is reported. The chip, with a simple structure, utilizes microfluid and compressed air to regulate the optical attenuation, and it can be expanded to form a number of VOAs by using different microfluidic driving technologies. Three VOAs based on this chip and different driving technologies are introduced. The theoretical and experimental results show that the proposed chip possesses the advantages of large optical attenuation range (> 50dB) and low insertion loss (0.55 dB). Moreover it is a broadband optical device which can be operated in visible and near infrared wavelengths. The proposed chip provides a new method for seeking miniaturized VOAs with good performances, and it is promising to develop a number of different VOAs.

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

“…A variable optical attenuator (VOA) is an important optical device for optical fiber communication and optical instrumentation [1,2]. The main approaches for a VOA include: thermo-optically adjusted Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) [3], optical fluid driven by a pump [4,5], liquid-core fiber driven by thermo-optical effect [6], and MEMS technology. Among the variable technologies, MEMS technology is one of the most favorable approaches for a VOA.…”