title: Thermooptic coupler for multimode optical fibers.
abstract: The detailed theory is presented together with design considerations and recent experimental results for an electronically controllable directional coupler for multimode optical fibers. The device, based on plastic-clad silica fiber, is of exceptionally simple construction and compact size and is highly reliable. A theoretical model of the coupler is described and compared with actual device performance. The coupling can be varied from -4 to -28 dB with an excess loss of <0.2 dB over the entire coupling range, in agreement with theory. Improvements in the present device design are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolfi