Super high-performance MEMS fiber optic variable optical attenuator (VOA) for aerospace and commercial applications.

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Date
2005-05-24
Authors
Ghauri, Farzan N.
Riza, Nabeel A.
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Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
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Abstract
Fiber-optic variable optical attenuators (VOAs) are required for light power control in numerous applications such as test and instrumentation, optical fiber telecommunications, industrial fiber-optic sensing, biomedical imaging and sensing, and photonic signal processing for antennas and radar systems. The requirements for the VOA, such as dynamic range and resolution, vary depending on the application. A VOA can demonstrate high end performance when it possesses critical attributes like super resolution precision and high dynamic range. Reported in this paper is the demonstration of a hybrid analog-digital fiber-optic VOA design that employs microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The VOA demonstrates simultaneously a super high controlled dynamic range of 81 dB as well as super 0.1 dB resolution attenuation controls. Proof-of-concept experiments exhibit an optical loss of 2.5 dB and C-band operations.Fiber-optic variable optical attenuators (VOAs) are required for light power control in numerous applications such as test and instrumentation, optical fiber telecommunications, industrial fiber-optic sensing, biomedical imaging and sensing, and photonic signal processing for antennas and radar systems. The requirements for the VOA, such as dynamic range and resolution, vary depending on the application. A VOA can demonstrate high end performance when it possesses critical attributes like super resolution precision and high dynamic range. Reported in this paper is the demonstration of a hybrid analog-digital fiber-optic VOA design that employs microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The VOA demonstrates simultaneously a super high controlled dynamic range of 81 dB as well as super 0.1 dB resolution attenuation controls. Proof-of-concept experiments exhibit an optical loss of 2.5 dB and C-band operations.
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Keywords
Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) , Digital Micro-Mirror Device (DMDTM) , Fiber-optics. , Signal attenuation , Micromirrors , Analog electronics , Digital micromirror devices , Fiber optics , Microelectromechanical systems , Single mode fibers
Citation
Ghauri, F. N. and Riza, N. A. (2005) 'Super high-performance MEMS fiber optic variable optical attenuator (VOA) for aerospace & commercial applications', Proceedings of SPIE, Enabling Photonics Technologies for Defense, Security and Aerospace Applications, Defense and Security Symposium 2005, Orlando, Florida, USA. doi: 10.1117/12.604919
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© 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.