Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
08:53
Label-free Single Molecule Detection Using Microtoroid Optical Resonators
Published on: December 29, 2015
Magnetically actuated fiber-optic switch with micromachined positioning stages
1Damien Associates, 3311 Oyster Bay, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Optics Letters
|May 15, 1997
Summary
A novel microfabrication technology using bulk anisotropic etching enables new micro-optical and microphotonic devices. This innovation leads to improved fiber-optic switches and translational stages with fast switching times.
Area of Science:
- Microfabrication
- Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Current micro-optical and microphotonic devices have limitations.
- Advanced fabrication techniques are needed for next-generation optical systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new microfabrication technology based on bulk anisotropic etching.
- To demonstrate its application in creating various micro-optical components.
- To characterize the performance of fabricated devices, specifically a fiber-optic switch.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing bulk anisotropic etching for microfabrication.
- Designing and realizing components such as fiber-optic switches and translational stages.
- Fabricating and characterizing a 1 x n micromechanical fiber-optic switch.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of 200-µm to 2-cm translational stages.
- Demonstration of a 1 x n micromechanical fiber-optic switch.
- Achieved switching times under 10 ms with insertion loss less than -1 dB for non-optimized devices.
Conclusions:
- The new microfabrication technology offers significant improvements for micro-optical and microphotonic devices.
- This technology is suitable for applications in beam steering and fiber-optic switching.
- Further optimization can lead to even better device performance.
