Optical attenuator with polarization compensation

摘要

An optical attenuator (10) for attenuating an incident optical beam (15) comprises at least two attenuating devices (20A, 20B), each having a polarization dependent attenuation characteristic with a preferred orientation. The attenuating devices are arranged in the optical beam (15) in a way that the preferred orientations of the polarization dependent attenuation characteristics substantially compensate each other, at least partially in defined locations (C). <IMAGE> <IMAGE>