Novel micro-optical waveguide on micro-actuating platform for reconfigurable wavelength selective optical switch

We propose a novel technique to add new degrees of freedom in fiber optic coupler devices. Micro-optical waveguide (MOW) on a microactuating platform (MAP) structure has been proposed and experimentally implemented using fiber waveguides, where the coupling characteristics of MOW are mechanically varied by precise axial stress control by MAP. As an application of the proposed structure, we mounted the coupling zone of fused taper coupler array on a MAP to demonstrate a novel reconfigurable 1x4 wavelength selective optical switching function. Robust mechanical tuning among output ports of a four-channel demultiplexer was realized by precise elongation control of the taper region in serially cascaded fused fiber couplers. Simultaneous reconfigurable wavelength routing and switching functions were demonstrated among four channels in 1.5-microm coarse WDM transmission window. We report the principle, design concept, and the performances of the proposed device structure along with its potential in reconfigurable fiber optics.