High-speed programmable optical attenuator.

Abstract

A high-speed programmable optical attenuator (POA) is introduced that can provide high dynamic range and high resolution attenuation control. An acousto-optic Bragg cell has been used to realize the desired attenuator. Various practical architectures have been proposed to prove the concept. A typical acousta-optic deflector (AOD) based design offers a dynamic range of 46.11 dB. The average resolution is 3.08 dB/volt whereas the best resolution achieved is 0.39 dB/volt. The response time of the AO attenuator is in the sub CLS regime, and was observed as low as 0.175 mu s. The polarization dependent loss (PDL) was about 0.7 dB, whereas the excess losses were about 1.5 dB.A high-speed programmable optical attenuator (POA) is introduced that can provide high dynamic range and high resolution attenuation control. An acousto-optic Bragg cell has been used to realize the desired attenuator. Various practical architectures have been proposed to prove the concept. A typical acousta-optic deflector (AOD) based design offers a dynamic range of 46.11 dB. The average resolution is 3.08 dB/volt whereas the best resolution achieved is 0.39 dB/volt. The response time of the AO attenuator is in the sub CLS regime, and was observed as low as 0.175 mu s. The polarization dependent loss (PDL) was about 0.7 dB, whereas the excess losses were about 1.5 dB.