Dynamic spectral power equalization using micro-opto-mechanics

• Published in: IEEE photonics technology letters Vol. 10; no. 10; pp. 1440 - 1442
• Main Authors: Ford, J.E., Walker, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-10-1998
• Subjects: Dielectric substrates; Electrostatics; Optical arrays; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber devices; Optical modulation; Packaging; Silicon; Voltage; Wavelength division multiplexing
• ISSN: 1041-1135; 1941-0174
• DOI: 10.1109/68.720287

We present a voltage-controlled spectral attenuator for gain shaping and power equalization in wavelength division multiplexed single-mode fiber systems. A micro-opto-mechanical modulator array, where electrostatic deflection of a silicon nitride quarter-wave dielectric layer suspended over a silicon substrate creates a column of variable reflectivity mirrors, is packaged using bulk optics and a diffraction grating to disperse the input spectrum across the device and collect the reflected light into a separate output fiber. The packaged component has 9-dB excess loss, 20-dB dynamic range and 10-μs response. We demonstrate equalization of the amplified spontaneous emission spectrum from an erbium-doped fiber amplifier and of individual laser signals with 10-dB initial variation to less than 0.5-dB variation over a 24-nm passband-free spectrum.