Piezoelectric fiber optic modulators and microtubes

Glen R. Fox; Claude A.P. Muller; Matthius Kuhn; Nava J. Setter; Nguyen Hong Ky; Hans G. Limberger

doi:10.1117/12.220942

13 September 1995 Piezoelectric fiber optic modulators and microtubes

Glen R. Fox, Claude A.P. Muller, Matthius Kuhn, Nava J. Setter, Nguyen Hong Ky, Hans G. Limberger

Proceedings Volume 2641, Microelectronic Structures and Microelectromechanical Devices for Optical Processing and Multimedia Applications; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.220942
Event: Micromachining and Microfabrication, 1995, Austin, TX, United States

Abstract

Miniature all-fiber phase modulators have been fabricated by integrating piezoelectric actuator coatings with telecommunication optical fibers. Evaporation and sputter deposition processes were used to grow thin film PbZr_xTi_{1 - x}O₃ (PZT) and ZnO actuator structures directly on the surface of optical fibers. When an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric coating, a strain is produced in both the coating and the optical fiber. The strain induced in the optical fiber causes a change in the refractive index through the photoelastic effect. Electric field tuneable optical phase modulation was achieved by utilizing the optical path length changes in the optical fiber that are induced by the integrated actuator structure. Processes similar to those used for coating optical fibers were also used make micro-tubes of PZT and ZnO between 20 and 30 micrometers in diameter. The piezoelectric layers were deposited onto polyester fibers, which were subsequently burned away to leave behind a micro-tube. Actuator structures have been produced and show promise for micro-electro- mechanical applications.

Citation Download Citation

Glen R. Fox, Claude A.P. Muller, Matthius Kuhn, Nava J. Setter, Nguyen Hong Ky, and Hans G. Limberger "Piezoelectric fiber optic modulators and microtubes", Proc. SPIE 2641, Microelectronic Structures and Microelectromechanical Devices for Optical Processing and Multimedia Applications, (13 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.220942

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