IN-GUIDE CONTROL OF OPTICAL PROPAGATION

摘要

An optical device for controlling propagation of light within an optical waveguide having a core substantially axi-symmetrically surrounded by a cladding having a substantially fixed index of refraction. The optical device includes a control region of the optical waveguide in which a radial thickness of the cladding is less than a penetration depth of an evanescent field of light propagating in the waveguide core. A variable-index material surrounds the cladding at least within the control region. The variable-index material has an index of refraction that is controllable in response to an applied stimulus. A controller applies the stimulus to the variable-index material within the control region. The optical device can be used as a variable optical attenuator, tunable filter etc. Different electrode designs and optical properties of the variable index material enables polarization dependent or independent, as well as direct or inverse operation regimes of the optical device.