OPTICAL INTENSITY ATTENUATOR AND OPTICAL INTENSITY ATTENUATING METHOD

摘要

An optical intensity attenuator and an optical intensity attenuating method for outputting a signal light component having a desired optical intensity by attenuating a pulse-like light surge by a simple structure comprising a small number of optical parts and circuits. A signal light is outputted on receiving a signal light containing a pulse-like surge component, and the intensity of the surge component is attenuated by a desired value. There are two typical methods: (1) a method in which at least one of substrate and an optical waveguide formed on the substrate is made of a material having a nonlinear optical effect, the refractive index of the optical waveguide for the signal light is smaller than that of the substrate for the harmonics of the signal light, and therefore a portion of the inputted signal light is converted in wavelength into a light having a shorter wavelength than that of the signal light and scattered; and (2) a method in which a polar molecule liquid containing polar molecules is used to scatter at least a portion of the signal light.