Optical temperature switch based on microstructured fibre filled with different chemical mixtures

P. Marc; P. Piliszek; M. Murawski; M. Szymanski; T. Nasilowski; L. R. Jaroszewicz

doi:10.1117/12.922771

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25 April 2012 Optical temperature switch based on microstructured fibre filled with different chemical mixtures

P. Marc; P. Piliszek; M. Murawski; M. Szymanski; T. Nasilowski; L. R. Jaroszewicz

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Proceedings Volume 8426, Microstructured and Specialty Optical Fibres; 842605 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922771
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Size, shape and location of the air holes allow to tailor microstructured fibre (MSF) parameters in a very wide range way beyond classical fibres what opens up many possibilities for various applications. Additionally, the propagation parameters of MSF can be actively tuned when the air-holes are filled with different gases, liquids (e.g., liquid crystals) or solid materials (e.g., polymers). The mode confinement in such a filled MSF can be affected by temperature dependent refractive index of material filling the fibre. This idea puts forward a new type of components for creating novel fibre devices such as switches, attenuators and others. Variable optical attenuators (VOAs) play an important role in optical communications as equalizers for dynamic channel power and wavelength division multiplexing in a transmission system. Controlling and monitoring of optical power are also necessary in sensing applications, and especially, in optical systems which require high power laser operation or critical temperature threshold monitoring. Various types of VOA have been developed based on different mechanisms, such as bending loss control, light leaking from the fibre cladding, temperature tuning of the polymer incorporated into the tapered microstructured fibre or electrical tuning of the liquid crystal layers. In this paper we would like to discuss the highly dynamic VOA based on a tuneable microstructured fibre filled with different chemical mixtures used as an on/off temperature switch. Furthermore, the technology of low loss coupling and splicing of the applied MSF with a standard single mode fibre has been developed. Therefore, in the proposed application an optical signal can be transmitted to and from the switch by a standard telecom fibre which considerably reduces transmission losses and allows for the use of standard off-the-shelf components reducing costs of the overall system.

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P. Marc, P. Piliszek, M. Murawski, M. Szymanski, T. Nasilowski, and L. R. Jaroszewicz "Optical temperature switch based on microstructured fibre filled with different chemical mixtures", Proc. SPIE 8426, Microstructured and Specialty Optical Fibres, 842605 (25 April 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922771

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