Influence of thermal isolating grooves on the performance of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type thermo-optic variable optical attenuator

Yuejiao He; Lin Yang; Qing Fang; Hongli Xin; Fang Li; Yuliang Liu

doi:10.1117/1.1885511

1 April 2005 Influence of thermal isolating grooves on the performance of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type thermo-optic variable optical attenuator

Yuejiao He, Lin Yang, Qing Fang, Hongli Xin, Fang Li, Yuliang Liu

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 44, Issue 4, 040504 (April 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1885511

Abstract

Two types of silicon-on-insulator thermo-optic variable optical attenuators (VOAs) based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a multimode-interference coupler are fabricated, one with thermal isolating grooves to improve heating efficiency and the other without. Comparison of optical and electrical properties, such as insertion losses, the maximum attenuation levels and the corresponding power consumptions, and the response times, is carried out between the two types of VOAs. The comparison results indicate that use of thermal isolating grooves leads to better values for most characteristics and is an effective way to improve the performance of Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type thermo-optic devices.

©(2005) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Yuejiao He, Lin Yang, Qing Fang, Hongli Xin, Fang Li, and Yuliang Liu "Influence of thermal isolating grooves on the performance of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type thermo-optic variable optical attenuator," Optical Engineering 44(4), 040504 (1 April 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1885511

Published: 1 April 2005

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