US20060215249A1 - Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component - Google Patents

Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060215249A1
US20060215249A1 US11/368,280 US36828006A US2006215249A1 US 20060215249 A1 US20060215249 A1 US 20060215249A1 US 36828006 A US36828006 A US 36828006A US 2006215249 A1 US2006215249 A1 US 2006215249A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
prism
gel
membrane
optical component
effects
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US11/368,280
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English (en)
Inventor
Even Zimmer
Vladimir Kartashov
Trond Naterstad
Gunnar Hedin
Bengt Jacobson
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Photonyx AS
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Photonyx AS
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Assigned to PHOTONYX AS reassignment PHOTONYX AS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JACOBSON, BENGT, HEDIN, GUNNAR E., KARTASHOV, VLADIMIR, ZIMMER, EVEN, NATERSTAD, TROND
Publication of US20060215249A1 publication Critical patent/US20060215249A1/en
Priority to US12/047,218 priority Critical patent/US7656574B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/001—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/04—Prisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/08—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/0025—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
    • G02B27/0068—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration having means for controlling the degree of correction, e.g. using phase modulators, movable elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/28—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising
    • G02B27/288—Filters employing polarising elements, e.g. Lyot or Solc filters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a device and a method for reducing polarization-dependent effects in dynamical optical components based on surface modulation of a polymer gel or membrane, and specially to a device and method that modifies, removes or leads away unwanted reflections from incident light or information carrier communicating with said optical component.
  • Dynamic or tunable components are of particular demand in fiber optic communication systems and the modules that such systems comprise.
  • a performing, low-cost, and highly scalable dynamic optical component based on surface modulation of a polymer gel (or membrane) is documented in the Norwegian patent application no. 2002 4265.
  • the state of polarization of the light in an optical communication system fluctuates over time due to environmental effects on the system components (especially the optical fiber) and changes in the topography of the system.
  • the performance of both the individual components and the modules that the system is built from, should therefore be as independent of the polarization state of the incoming light as possible, and change the polarization state as little as possible.
  • D-MEMS diffractive MEMS
  • These devices are based on a moveable diffraction grating consisting of at least two separate pieces. There are provided a stationary reflective bottom surface, and a moveable set of thin blades, the grating, that are made of etched silicon. The blades can be moved up and down by the application of an appropriate electrical field. The result is a diffraction grating, where the effective phase shift of the grating is given by the relative position of the blades and the reflective surface below.
  • This arrangement can be used to make effective variable optical attenuators, but the set of blades must be processed out of silicon. This is an expensive process, and the yield of the process goes dramatically down as the system size increases. Components made from D-MEMS are hence effective and performing, but expensive.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,522 discloses a light-modulating device comprising a glass prism attached with a reflection free glass backing plate, a transparent electrode and a deformable material such as silicon rubber.
  • a substrate with addressable electrodes is arranged in parallel with the surface of said deformable silicon rubber with an air gap between the material and the substrate.
  • One aspect is a method of manufacturing a dynamical optical component having reduced polarization-dependent effects.
  • the method includes attaching a gel layer or membrane adjacent to a surface of a transparent prism, forming a set of individually addressable electrodes on a substrate, where the electrodes are spaced apart from a surface of the gel or membrane and facing away from the prism, and providing means for minimizing difference in effects on orthogonal states of polarization in incoming light or information carrier by locating the means inside the optical component in a path of the incoming light or the information carrier.
  • Another aspect is an optical component including a gel layer or membrane attached adjacent to a surface of a transparent prism, and a substrate with a set of individually addressable electrodes spaced apart from a surface on the gel or membrane facing away from the prism, where the surface of the transparent prism is diffuse.
  • Another aspect is a method of using an optical component.
  • the method includes providing incident light to the optical component, directing the incident light to at least one of a gel layer and a membrane attached adjacent to a diffuse surface of a transparent prism, and spaced apart from a substrate with a set of individually addressable electrodes spaced apart from the surface, and minimizing a difference in effects on orthogonal states of polarization in the incident light.
  • Certain embodiments described herein have at least the performance of D-MEMS solutions, but with similar or better ease of manufacturing as found in LCD or LCOS methods of production. Some embodiments are based on tunable surface diffraction gratings. Examples of such gratings have been disclosed in the literature and in patents. For example, our preferred embodiment is based on the arrangements described in Norwegian patent application no. 2002 4265.
  • FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate an example of a double pass embodiment with a single channel.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a multipass embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates how reflections can provide interference effects.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates another example of an embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates examples of prism design according to an example of of embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a prism design according to another example of an embodiment.
  • Certain embodiments provide minimization of the difference in effects on orthogonal states of polarization in the incoming light or information carrier on dynamic optical components as exemplified in the Norwegian patent application no. 2002 4265, where optical tuneability is achieved by surface modulation of a polymer gel film or membrane.
  • a half-wave plate is known to a person skilled in the art.
  • the effect of a half-wave plate is to rotate orthogonal polarizations 90° in the plane transversal to the direction of propagation. If the polarization effects in the light path before and after the half-waveplate are similar or close to identical, orthogonal polarizations will in total see the same or similar polarization effects (polarization dependent loss, polarization mode dispersion, etc.). The resulting effect is that the modulator will have no effects depending on the polarization state of the incoming light, and a minimal change in polarization state will take place.
  • FIG. 1 a illustrates an end view while FIG. 1 b illustrates a top view of the embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 a illustrates an end view while FIG. 1 b illustrates a top view of the embodiment.
  • the gel surface (or membrane) is indicated as a circle 103 .
  • a half-wave plate 100 can be both of transmissive and reflective nature. Both types can be exploited in examples of embodiments.
  • the light or information carrier may also hit the modulated gel (or membrane) surface more than twice.
  • An example of a multiple-pass configuration with four reflections from the modulated gel (or membrane) surface and a half-waveplate 100 included is shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the distance between the diffractions is very small and the Fresnel approximation is used.
  • An interesting effect of the multiple reflections is that the gel amplitude can be n times lower and approximately the electrical field can be n times smaller while keeping a high dynamic attenuation range.
  • the half-wave plate is arranged inside a prism arrangement comprising 4 different joining prism shapes 110 , 111 , 112 and 113 where the prism part 112 comprises a carving for the halfwave-plate 100 .
  • the different parts are joined as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • a substrate 115 with electrodes constituting the modulating electric field is adjacent to the gel or membrane part of the optical component, spaced apart by the distal members 114 .
  • a small residual polarization effect may occur due to the non-normal incidence of light on the prism-polymer (or membrane) interface if the index matching between prism and polymer (membrane) is not sufficiently optimized.
  • the state of polarization of the incoming light can be decomposed into two components, one component parallel to (known as p-polarization) and the other perpendicular to (known as s-polarization) the plane of incidence.
  • the plane of incidence is defined by the incoming ray direction and the perpendicular to the prism-gel (membrane) interface. If the difference Dn in refractive index between the gel (membrane) as indicated in FIG. 3 where only a part of the complete modulator as described in the Norwegian patent application no. 2002 4265 is included.
  • the thickness of the ITO layer applied between the prism end the gel (membrane) in the patent application mentioned above is typically only a fraction of a wavelength and has therefore less influence.
  • the intensity reflection coefficient R s for s-polarized light may be roughly 10 ⁇ 3 while the reflectivity for p-polarized light may be roughly three orders of magnitude smaller.
  • Incoming coherent light in s-polarization with intensity 10 will experience two major reflections as indicated in FIG. 3 : An intensity component I 1 is reflected from the prism-gel interface with reflection coefficient R s in the order of 10 ⁇ 3 . A larger component I 2 is reflected by the surface pattern on the gel set up by the electrical field from the electrodes as described above. The reflective coefficient for reflected light in zero'th order is ⁇ .
  • the interference effects between I 1 and I 2 will result in a wavelength dependence in the output signal similar to what is observed in the output from the well-known Fabry-Perot cavity where the so-called effective free spectral range (FSR) is given by the angle of incidence and the gel (or membrane) thickness.
  • the oscillations in the wavelength response will have an amplitude of 2 ⁇ (I 1 I 2 ) ⁇ 2I 0 ⁇ (R s ⁇ ). For a desired attenuation of 10 dB, the amplitude of the wavelength variations will be about 1 dB.
  • the so-called finesse of the Fabry-Perot cavity is reduced. In examples of embodiments this is done by:
  • Three of the possible methods according to the invention are:
  • Non-parallel prism-gel (membrane) and gel-air (membrane) surface or a curvature of one or both gel (membrane) surfaces can be made during the manufacturing process.
  • the effect is that the I 1 component mentioned above will not be reflected in a direction parallel to I 2 , but rather spread out as a non-collimated beam.
  • a possible solution is to shape the gel (or membrane) during manufacturing so that the resulting layer is wedge-shaped in stead of having parallel surfaces.
  • An example is given in FIG. 4 .
  • a typical range for the angle ⁇ shown in FIG. 4 can be from a tenth of a degree up to close to one degree, depending of the characteristics of the optics at the output of the modulator.
  • Non-parallel gel surfaces can also be achieved by a modified prism shape, and by joining the modified prism to the surface of the gel (or membrane) thereby forming the desired non-parallel shape of the gel surface.
  • a modified prism shape can easily be made flat during the manufacturing process, and it is preferable to introduce either a slope or some kind of a concave or a convex type of shape of the prism surface that will be joining the gel, and thereby forming the desired shape.
  • the slope or convex or concave shape can be 1 or 2 dimensional. In a variant 1 of prism design as shown in FIG.
  • a prism 154 has a surface 150 formed with a wedge shaped section 151 .
  • a gel or membrane adjacent surface is indicated by the dotted line 153 .
  • Variant 2 in FIG. 5 illustrates that the slope of the wedge shaped section can be in any desired direction relative to the prism surface 150 .
  • Variant 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrates how a wedge shaped section can be formed as a carving on the surface 150 of the prism 154 .
  • both a wedge shaped section and a half-wave plate is provided in one and same optical component.
  • one or several additional layer or layers can be added between the surface of the prism and the ITO-layer that is next to the polymer film, see FIG. 6 .
  • the thickness of the ITO layer is typically only a fraction of a wavelength and has therefore less influence.
  • the AR coating is designed so that its refractive index is in the range between the refractive indices of the prism and the polymer film (membrane). This will reduce the effective reflectivity seen by s- and p-polarized light when leaving the prism and entering the polymer film. The intensity of the ray labeled I 1 will be lowered compared to the case when there is no AR coating present.
  • the refractive index of the ITO-layer could be modified in order to serve as an AR coating or a material that could act both as a bias electrode and an AR-coating could be used instead of the ITO.
  • the difference in the refractive indices of the prism and the polymer (membrane) may be reduced by modifying one or both of the indices. This can be done by adding suitable dopants to the respective materials during manufacturing.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Polarising Elements (AREA)
  • Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
  • Optical Modulation, Optical Deflection, Nonlinear Optics, Optical Demodulation, Optical Logic Elements (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal (AREA)
  • Optical Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)
US11/368,280 2003-09-05 2006-03-03 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component Abandoned US20060215249A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/047,218 US7656574B2 (en) 2003-09-05 2008-03-12 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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NO20033940 2003-09-05
NO20033940A NO20033940D0 (no) 2003-09-05 2003-09-05 Fremgangsmåte og innretning for reduksjon av polariseringsavhengige effekter i en styrbar optisk komponent
PCT/NO2004/000261 WO2005024490A1 (en) 2003-09-05 2004-09-03 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component

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PCT/NO2004/000261 Continuation WO2005024490A1 (en) 2003-09-05 2004-09-03 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component

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US12/047,218 Continuation US7656574B2 (en) 2003-09-05 2008-03-12 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component

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US12/047,218 Expired - Fee Related US7656574B2 (en) 2003-09-05 2008-03-12 Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component

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US (2) US20060215249A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP1668398B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2007504506A (zh)
KR (1) KR100879143B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN100439969C (zh)
AT (1) ATE428950T1 (zh)
CA (1) CA2536614C (zh)
DE (1) DE602004020642D1 (zh)
DK (1) DK1668398T3 (zh)
ES (1) ES2326031T3 (zh)
NO (1) NO20033940D0 (zh)
WO (1) WO2005024490A1 (zh)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4278327A (en) * 1979-11-26 1981-07-14 Sperry Corporation Liquid crystal matrices

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH454296A (de) * 1967-03-17 1968-04-15 Foerderung Forschung Gmbh Einrichtung zur Verstärkung der Intensität eines optisch erzeugten Bildes
GB2265024B (en) * 1992-03-14 1996-01-24 British Aerospace A spatial light modulator assembly
US6476987B1 (en) * 1999-08-04 2002-11-05 Lambda Physik Ag Excimer laser with line narrowing
EP1203463A2 (en) * 1999-08-11 2002-05-08 Lightconnect, Inc. Dynamic spectral shaping in optical fibre communication
EP1386193A2 (en) * 2001-04-03 2004-02-04 CiDra Corporation Variable optical source
NO318004B1 (no) 2002-09-06 2005-01-17 Photonyx As Fremgangsmate og innretning for en variabel optisk attenuator
EP1535108A1 (en) * 2002-09-06 2005-06-01 Photonyx AS Method and device for variable optical attenuator

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4278327A (en) * 1979-11-26 1981-07-14 Sperry Corporation Liquid crystal matrices

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JP2007504506A (ja) 2007-03-01
DK1668398T3 (da) 2009-07-20
DE602004020642D1 (de) 2009-05-28
US7656574B2 (en) 2010-02-02
EP1668398B1 (en) 2009-04-15
KR100879143B1 (ko) 2009-01-19
WO2005024490A1 (en) 2005-03-17
CN1879049A (zh) 2006-12-13
NO20033940D0 (no) 2003-09-05
US20080165410A1 (en) 2008-07-10
KR20060080923A (ko) 2006-07-11
EP1668398A1 (en) 2006-06-14
CA2536614A1 (en) 2005-03-17
ES2326031T3 (es) 2009-09-29
ATE428950T1 (de) 2009-05-15
CA2536614C (en) 2011-02-08
CN100439969C (zh) 2008-12-03

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Owner name: PHOTONYX AS, NORWAY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HEDIN, GUNNAR E.;ZIMMER, EVEN;KARTASHOV, VLADIMIR;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:017737/0406;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060322 TO 20060523

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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