title: Optofluidic waveguides for reconfigurable photonic systems.
abstract: We report the development of two liquid waveguide based photonic elements for use in reconfigurable photonic systems. This work demonstrates the ability to couple light from a conventional optical fiber to an adaptable liquid-core/liquid-cladding waveguide and back again to an optical fiber(s) enabling us to take advantage of both liquid- and solid-state photonic modalities. We demonstrate and characterize the use of this fiber-in and fiber-out system as either an optical switch or signal attenuator. Microscale flow control enables the adaptive morphology and tunable position of the liquid waveguide yielding an attenuation range of 3.1-10.7 dB, operability over a broad bandwidth spanning the range of wavelengths from visible to telecommunication, and a 1x2 sub-second switching system with a cross-talk as low as 20 dB and maximum coupling efficiency of 3.87 dB.
authors.affiliation: Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Aram J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055096:Optical Devices; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*