Retro-axial VOA using parabolic mirror pair

Xuming Zhang; A. Q. Liu; H. Cai; A. B. Yu; Chao Lu

doi:10.1109/LPT.2007.894941

Retro-axial VOA using parabolic mirror pair

Xuming Zhang, A. Q. Liu, H. Cai, A. B. Yu, Chao Lu

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This letter presents a design of a microelectromechanical systems variable optical attenuator (VOA) that employs a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector, which has obtained a linear relationship over a 62-dB range between the attenuation (in decibels) and the mirror rotation angle (in degrees). The insertion loss measures 0.6 dB thanks to the three-dimentional optical coupling design. The linearity comes from the simultaneous shift and defocus of the laser beam. Compared with the conventional coaxial and cross-axial VOAs, such retro-axial design has the two fibers arranged on the same side and thus facilitates the use of standard packaging formats.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	692-694
Number of pages	3
Journal	IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Volume	19
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2007.894941
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2007

Keywords

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
Optical attenuator (VOA)
Parabolic micromirror

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

More information

10.1109/LPT.2007.894941

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title = "Retro-axial VOA using parabolic mirror pair",

abstract = "This letter presents a design of a microelectromechanical systems variable optical attenuator (VOA) that employs a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector, which has obtained a linear relationship over a 62-dB range between the attenuation (in decibels) and the mirror rotation angle (in degrees). The insertion loss measures 0.6 dB thanks to the three-dimentional optical coupling design. The linearity comes from the simultaneous shift and defocus of the laser beam. Compared with the conventional coaxial and cross-axial VOAs, such retro-axial design has the two fibers arranged on the same side and thus facilitates the use of standard packaging formats.",

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AU - Zhang, Xuming

AU - Liu, A. Q.

AU - Cai, H.

AU - Yu, A. B.

AU - Lu, Chao

PY - 2007/5/1

Y1 - 2007/5/1

N2 - This letter presents a design of a microelectromechanical systems variable optical attenuator (VOA) that employs a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector, which has obtained a linear relationship over a 62-dB range between the attenuation (in decibels) and the mirror rotation angle (in degrees). The insertion loss measures 0.6 dB thanks to the three-dimentional optical coupling design. The linearity comes from the simultaneous shift and defocus of the laser beam. Compared with the conventional coaxial and cross-axial VOAs, such retro-axial design has the two fibers arranged on the same side and thus facilitates the use of standard packaging formats.

AB - This letter presents a design of a microelectromechanical systems variable optical attenuator (VOA) that employs a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector, which has obtained a linear relationship over a 62-dB range between the attenuation (in decibels) and the mirror rotation angle (in degrees). The insertion loss measures 0.6 dB thanks to the three-dimentional optical coupling design. The linearity comes from the simultaneous shift and defocus of the laser beam. Compared with the conventional coaxial and cross-axial VOAs, such retro-axial design has the two fibers arranged on the same side and thus facilitates the use of standard packaging formats.

KW - Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

KW - Optical attenuator (VOA)

KW - Parabolic micromirror

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EP - 694

JO - IEEE Photonics Technology Letters

JF - IEEE Photonics Technology Letters

IS - 9

ER -

Retro-axial VOA using parabolic mirror pair

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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