High Extinction Ratio Magneto-Optical Fiber Modulator Based on Nanoparticle Magnetic Fluids

• Main Authors: Peng Zu, Chi Chiu Chan, Wen Siang Lew, Yongxing Jin, Hwi Fen Liew, Li Han Chen, Wei Chang Wong, Xinyong Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2012-01-01
• Series: IEEE Photonics Journal
• Subjects: Magneto-optical modulator; magnetic fluid; extinction ratio
• Online Access: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6220840/
• ISSN: 1943-0655

A novel magneto-optical fiber modulator with a high extinction ratio (ER) based on a polarization interference structure is proposed. A magnetic fluid (MF) film and a section of a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) are inserted into the structure to generate a suitable sinusoidal interference spectrum for light modulation. The MF film leads to a spectrum shift under external magnetic field due to its magnetically controllable birefringence, whereas the PMF is used to control the period of the interference spectrum. In this experiment, magneto-optical modulation with a high ER of 38 dB is demonstrated.