Liu Chao, Wang Di, Wang Guang-Xu, Jiang Zhao, Wang Qiong-Hua
Opt Express. 2020 Mar 16;28(6):8974-8984. doi: 10.1364/OE.389198.
In this paper, a liquid optical switch is proposed, and the 1550 nm infrared/visible switching function based on hydraulic control can be realized. An infrared light switch cavity, a visible light cavity and a liquid control cavity are stacked to form the main framework of the device. The glycerol, dyed liquid, and transparent liquid are filled in the cavities, respectively. Two elastic films are fabricated between the cavities for controlling the liquid volume of the cavities. With such a structure, in the initial state, the 1550 nm infrared light and visible light are absorbed by the glycerol and dyed liquid, respectively. The device shows infrared light-off and visible light-off states. When the elastic film is actuated by the liquid pressure, the shape of the elastic film can be changed. Once the elastic film touches to the substrate, a light channel can be formed so that the infrared light or visible light can pass through it. It shows infrared light-on or visible light-on states. In this way, the device can be worked as an infrared light and visible light switchable optical switch. The experiments show that the device can obtain the optical attenuation from ∼1.02 dB to ∼18.24 dB for 1550 nm infrared light optical switch and ∼0.66 dB to ∼8.70 dB @ λ=450 nm; ∼0.62 dB to ∼8.74 dB @ λ=532 nm; ∼0.77 dB to ∼9.00 dB @ λ=633 nm for visible light optical switch. The device has potential applications in the fields of optical fiber communications, variable optical attenuators, and light shutters.
本文提出了一种液体光开关，可实现基于液压控制的1550 nm红外/可见光切换功能。一个红外光开关腔、一个可见光腔和一个液体控制腔堆叠形成该装置的主要框架。甘油、染色液体和透明液体分别填充在这些腔中。在这些腔之间制作了两个弹性膜，用于控制腔的液体体积。采用这种结构，在初始状态下，1550 nm红外光和可见光分别被甘油和染色液体吸收。该装置呈现红外光关断和可见光关断状态。当弹性膜受到液体压力驱动时，其形状会发生变化。一旦弹性膜接触到基板，就可以形成一个光通道，使红外光或可见光能够通过。它呈现红外光导通或可见光导通状态。这样，该装置就可以作为一个红外光和可见光可切换的光开关工作。实验表明，对于1550 nm红外光光开关，该装置可获得约1.02 dB至约18.24 dB的光衰减；对于可见光光开关，在λ = 450 nm时为约0.66 dB至约8.70 dB；在λ = 532 nm时为约0.62 dB至约8.74 dB；在λ = 633 nm时为约0.77 dB至约9.00 dB。该装置在光纤通信、可变光衰减器和光快门等领域具有潜在应用。
