Novel micro-optical waveguide on microactuating platform for re-configurable wavelength selective optical switch

Abstract

We propose a novel technique to add new degrees of freedom in fiber optic coupler devices. Micro-optical waveguide (MOW) on a micro-actuating platform ( MAP) structure has been proposed and experimentally implemented using fiber waveguides, where the coupling characteristics of MOW are mechanically varied by precise axial stress control by MAP. As an application of the proposed structure, we mounted the coupling zone of fused taper coupler array on a MAP to demonstrate a novel re-configurable 1x4 wavelength selective optical switching function. Robust mechanical tuning among output ports of a four-channel demultiplexer was realized by precise elongation control of the taper region in serially cascaded fused fiber couplers. Simultaneous re-configurable wavelength routing and switching functions were demonstrated among four channels in 1.5 mum coarse WDM transmission window. We report the principle, design concept, and the performances of the proposed device structure along with its potential in reconfigurable fiber optics. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.