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Experimental study on the performance of a variable optical attenuator using polymer dispersed liquid crystal
Ghada Nabil1, Wing Fat Ho, Hau Ping Chan
1Electronic Engineering Department, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
Applied Optics
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) was used in polymer waveguides for optical attenuation. Nonaligned PDLC cladding offered a wider attenuation range and lower polarization dependence in variable optical attenuators.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Device Physics
Background:
- Variable optical attenuators (VOAs) are crucial components in optical communication systems.
- Polymer-based waveguides offer advantages like low cost and flexibility.
- Liquid crystals are explored for tunable optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) as cladding in polymer-based variable optical attenuators.
- To compare the optical attenuation characteristics of waveguides with aligned PDLC, nonaligned PDLC, and aligned liquid crystal upper claddings.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of three polymer inverted channel waveguides.
- Two waveguides featured PDLC upper cladding (aligned and nonaligned).
- One waveguide utilized aligned liquid crystal upper cladding.
- Evaluation of threshold voltage, cutoff voltage, polarization dependence, and attenuation range under applied electric fields.
Main Results:
- Waveguides with aligned upper claddings exhibited lower threshold and cutoff voltages.
- The waveguide with nonaligned PDLC upper cladding demonstrated lower polarization dependence.
- Nonaligned PDLC cladding achieved a higher attenuation range (39 dB for TM, 41.37 dB for TE modes) at 0.9 V/μm tuning field strength.
Conclusions:
- Nonaligned PDLC cladding is a promising material for polymer-based VOAs, offering a broad attenuation range and minimal polarization dependency.
- Optimized PDLC cladding can enhance the performance of tunable optical devices.
