High-speed all-fiber magneto-optic switch and its integration

Abstract

An all-fiber magneto-optic switch is designed in this paper, which makes use of Faraday Effect, fiber-type polarizing beam splitter/combiner (PBS/PBC), magneto-optic crystal fiber, nanosecond impulser and high-speed magnetic field control technology. The design scheme uses magneto-optic crystal fiber instead of bulky magneto-optic crystal. The optical route design includes linear layout of magneto-optic crystal fiber, the optical route design of polarized light in fiber PBS/PBC, magnetic route design and analysis of linear solenoid, etc. A solenoid which is driven by nanosecond current and can generate high-speed magnetic field is designed and manufactured. The result analysis shows that pulse signal can be greatly strengthened by impressed-bias static magnetic field which is perpendicular to transmission direction of light beam. Static magnetic field insures the intensity of induced magnetization where the light passes come back to original value, so that it can offer high-extent magnetization equality. The intensity of magnetic field can be improved to two orders when the length ratio of magneto-optic crystal fiber to solenoid is increased eight times. When the diameter of magneto-optic crystal and solenoid is decreased from three millimeters to one millimeter, the intensity of magnetic field can be improved to one order. The all fiber magneto-optic switch is slim in structure, flexible, easy to high-density integration and expansion, so there are many integration methods to design all-fiber magneto-optic switch array, which is characterized of smaller bulk, higher magnetic field usage, lower consumption and driving voltage, etc.