A liquid lens-based broadband variable fiber optical attenuator

Reza, Syed Azer; Riza, Nabeel A.

doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2008.12.029

Cited by 77 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Nevertheless, there are relatively few examples of fiber optic VOAs using optofluidics as a baseline technology. Reza and Riza [7] created a single mode fiber (SMF) VOA using a commercial liquid lens (Varioptic, France) positioned in the free space between two fiber coupled lenses. The electrowetting actuated liquid lens was used to control light power coupling between the two lensed fibres, leading to VOA action.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on a ferrofluid shutter

2015

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This version is available at https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/53999/ Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge.Any correspondence concerning this service should be sent to the Strathprints administrator: strathprints@strath.ac.ukThe Strathprints institutional repository (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk) is a digital archive of University of Strathclyde research outputs. It has been developed to disseminate open access research outputs, expose data about those outputs, and enable the management and persistent access to Strathclyde's intellectual output. Single mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on a ferrofluid shutter Anna Dudu , Robert Blue and Deepak UttamchandaniCentre for Microsystems and Photonics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G11XW, UK *Corresponding author: author_nine@uni-jena.deReceived Month X, XXXX; revised Month X, XXXX; accepted Month X, XXXX; posted Month X, XXXX (Doc.ID XXXXX); published Month X, XXXXWe report the fabrication and characterization of a single mode fiber variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on a ferrofluid shutter actuated by a magnetic field created by a low voltage electromagnet. We compare the performance of a VOA using an oil-based ferrofluid with one using a water-based ferrofluid, and demonstrate a broadband optical attenuation of up to 28dB with polarization dependent loss (PDL) of 0.85 dB. Our optofluidic VOA has the advantages over MEMS-based VOAs of a simple construction and the absence of mechanical moving parts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on a ferrofluid shutter

2015

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“…A variety of methods have been proposed for the fabrication of microfluidic devices. These devices have widespread applications in micro-pumping [4,5], inkjet printing [6], sensing [7], biology [8,9], beam steering [10,11], and adaptive lenses [12][13][14][15][16]. Due to optical isotropy, microfluidic has also been used for optical switches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been an essential component in optical fiber switching, photonic signal processing, IR shutter, attenuators, and sensing. To electrically switch an IR light, modulators based on light scattering [24,25], phase modulation [26,27], beam steering [10], and light absorption [28] have been proposed. Each approach has its own strengths and limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Infrared Optical Switch Using a Movable Liquid Droplet

Wang

Jin

et al. 2015

Micromachines

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Abstract:We report an infrared (IR) optical switch using a wedge-like cell. A glycerol droplet is placed in the cell and its surrounding is filled with silicone oil. The droplet has minimal surface area to volume (SA/V) ratio in the relaxing state. By applying a voltage, the generated dielectric force pulls the droplet to move toward the region with thinner cell gap. As a result, the droplet is deformed by the substrates, causing the SA/V of the droplet to increase. When the voltage is removed, the droplet can return to its original place in order to minimize the surface energy. Owing to the absorption of glycerol at 1.55 μm, the shifted droplet can be used to attenuate an IR beam with the advantage of polarization independent. Fluidic devices based on this operation mechanism have potential applications in optical fiber switches, IR shutter, and variable optical attenuations.

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“…An alternative approach to create a miniature VOA which uses no mechanical moving parts is based on optofluidics technology. Optofluidic based VOAs are exemplified by devices based on liquid crystals [2,3], variable interfacial reflection [4], electrowetting [5] and the thermo-optic effect [6]. Ferrofluids are a class of fluids that are increasingly being applied in MEMS, mainly in microactuation, since ferrofluid based actuators can operate with low voltage supply, in the 1 to 10 volts range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Miniaturized ferrofluid actuated single mode fiber variable optical attenuator (VOA)

Dudus

Blue

Uttamchandani

2014

2014 International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics

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We report a miniature variable optical attenuator employing a ferrofluid actuator/shutter combination located between lensed optical fibers. The VOA consists of an opaque, undiluted ferrofluid plug actuator inside a microfluidic channel. The ferrofluid plug position is translated by a variable magnetic field generated from a miniature electromagnet. The ferrofluid plug actuator in turn displaces a second oil-diluted ferrofluid plug acting as an optical shutter. The position of the shutter controls the optical power coupled between the input and output fibers.

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A liquid lens-based broadband variable fiber optical attenuator

Cited by 77 publications

References 18 publications

Single-mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on a ferrofluid shutter

Single-mode fiber variable optical attenuator based on a ferrofluid shutter

Infrared Optical Switch Using a Movable Liquid Droplet

Miniaturized ferrofluid actuated single mode fiber variable optical attenuator (VOA)

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