Optical switch

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized phase difference intensity converting element having no polarization dependence, by using tapered double-refracting materials as a polarized light separating element and a polarized light synthesizing element. CONSTITUTION:The light incident from an optical fiber 1 becomes parallel through a lens (a), and normal rays and abnormal rays separated from each other by angles in a polarized light separating element 11 consisting of a tapered double-refracting plate are incident to an electrooptic element 12 as a phase difference converting element and become elliptically polarized lights by the phase diffefence. These lights are incident to a polarized light synthesizing crystal 11' which has the optical axis shifted at a certain angle from that of the element 11 and has the same cut taper angle as the element 11 and has the optical axis at 45 deg. to the principal axis of the element 12 similarly to the element 11, and the normal light and the abnormal light are emitted as parallel rays 13 and 14, respectively and are converged to an optical fiber 4 through a lens (b). Meanwhile, the separation angle of components where the plane of polarization is rotated by the element 12 is increased through the element 11', and these components are not incident to the optical fiber 4. The applied voltage of the element 12 is controlled to realize a phase difference intensity converting element having no polarization dependence.

Inventors

• 👤 Masataka Shirasaki
• 👤 白崎　正孝

Bibliographic Details