An optofluidic variable optical attenuator based on magnetohydrodynamic drive

Fenglan Xue; Jing Wan; Lingxun Wu; Yanjun Fu; Jian Hu; Fangren Hu

doi:10.1117/12.2243458

25 October 2016 An optofluidic variable optical attenuator based on magnetohydrodynamic drive

Fenglan Xue, Jing Wan, Lingxun Wu, Yanjun Fu, Jian Hu, Fangren Hu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9686, 8th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Optoelectronic Materials and Devices; 96861F (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2243458
Event: Eighth International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technology (AOMATT2016), 2016, Suzhou, China

Abstract

With the development of optical communication, the optical attenuator becomes an important passive device. It is widely used in power equalization of DWDM system and photo detectors. Here an optofluidic variable optical attenuator (VOA) based on magnetohydrodynamic drive is presented. This chip uses microfluid and compressible air to adjust optical attenuation, where the fluid-drive technology uses magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drive. The driving pump consists of two electrodes and a permanent magnet (NdFeB) that under the microfluidic channel. Only several volts voltage is needed in operation. There are no movable mechanical parts in this variable optical attenuator, so its volume is small. This variable optical attenuator has a simple structure and a low voltage advantages, and it is easy to control and integrate. The proposed VOA gives a new method for looking for small, low voltage and adjustable VOAs.

Citation Download Citation

Fenglan Xue, Jing Wan, Lingxun Wu, Yanjun Fu, Jian Hu, and Fangren Hu "An optofluidic variable optical attenuator based on magnetohydrodynamic drive", Proc. SPIE 9686, 8th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, 96861F (25 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2243458

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