New Design for a Variable Optical Attenuator Based on a Bent Channel Waveguide

Abstract

We present a new method for bend loss control in a curved channel optical waveguide and employ it in a novel design of a thermo-optic variable optical attenuator. We show that the introduced asymmetric refractive index profile of the wave-guide structure, combined with the optimal placement of the heating electrodes, leads to a significant increase of the dynamic range of the attenuator. Show more