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New design for a variable optical attenuator based on a bent channel waveguide

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Abstract

We present a new method for bend loss control in a curved channel optical waveguide and employ it in a novel design of a thermo-optic variable optical attenuator. We show that the introduced asymmetric refractive index profile of the waveguide structure, combined with the optimal placement of the heating electrodes, leads to a significant increase of the dynamic range of the attenuator.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Physics Centre, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Canberra, Australia

    S. Tomljenovic-Hanic & W. Krolikowski

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  1. S. Tomljenovic-Hanic
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  2. W. Krolikowski
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Correspondence to S. Tomljenovic-Hanic.

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PACS

42.82.Et; 42.70.Jk; 42.79.Ta

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Tomljenovic-Hanic, S., Krolikowski, W. New design for a variable optical attenuator based on a bent channel waveguide. Appl. Phys. B 77, 19–23 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-003-1235-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-003-1235-2

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