Skip to main content
Log in

Design of a variable optical attenuator with wavelength selectivity

  • Published:
Photonic Network Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We propose a theoretical design of a high-speed wavelength-selective variable optical attenuator (VOA) constructed by a waveguide-type Raman amplifier and two directional couplers. The VOA can attenuate each incident WDM wavelength individually and simultaneously in a few tens of picoseconds by applying the corresponding pumping wavelength to the Raman amplifier. We define two operation modes, which may allow the attenuation ratio to decrease or increase by increasing the amplification rate of the Raman amplifier. The profile of the attenuation curves of the two operation modes can be flexibly determined by properly selecting the phase angles of the directional couplers. The guidelines to determine these phase angles of the two directional couplers are provided after the operational analyses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mukherjee B.: WDM optical communication networks: progress and challenges. IEEE J. Sel. Area Commun. 18(10), 1810–1824 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kishikawa H., Goto N.: Proposal of all-optical wavelength-selective switching using waveguide-type Raman amplifiers and 3-dB couplers. IEEE/OSA J. Lightwave Technol. 23(4), 1631–1636 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tsai T.L., Wu J.C.: Low-complexity and high-flexibility design of a wavelength-selective switch using Raman amplifiers and directional couplers. IEEE/OSA J. Lightwave Technol. 26(10), 1226–1233 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Wu J.C., Tsai T.L.: Low complexity design of a wavelength-selective switch using Raman amplifiers and directional couplers. IEEE Glob. Telecommun. Conf. (GLOBECOM’06), OPN-02(3) 1–5 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hung, S.H., Chiu, C.E., Su, G.-D.J., Jiang, F.: Low voltage variable optical attenuator made by the low-cost micromachining wet-etching technique, Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO/Pacific Rim’05), 1374–1375 (2005)

  6. Hirabayashi K., Wada M., Amano C.: Optical-fiber variable-attenuator arrays using polymer-network liquid crystal. IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 13(5), 487–489 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Xianjun K., Wang M.R., Li D.: All-optical controlled variable optical attenuator using photochromic sol gel material. IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18(9), 1025–1027 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gauden D. et al.: Variable optical attenuator based on thermally tuned Mach-Zehnder interferometer within a twin core fiber. Opt. Commun. 231(1–6), 213–216 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Shien-Kuei L. et al.: Dynamic power-equalized EDFA module based on strain tunable fiber Bragg gratings. IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 11(7), 797–799 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sapriel J. et al.: Tunable acoustooptic filters and equalizers for WDM applications. IEEE/OSA J. Lightwave Technol. 20(5), 892–899 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ramaswami R., Sivarajan K.N.: Optical Networks—A Practical Perspective. 2nd edn. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Menlo Park (2002)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tsair-Liang Tsai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsai, TL., Wu, JC. Design of a variable optical attenuator with wavelength selectivity. Photon Netw Commun 19, 331–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-009-0238-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-009-0238-2

Keywords

Navigation