PDLC-based VOA with a small polarization dependent loss

A polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)-based variable optical attenuator (VOA) was demonstrated to exhibit a relatively small polarization dependent loss (PDL) in the optical communication C band. The influence of the PDLC characteristics, the temperature, as well as the wavelength of the laser irradiation, on the PDLC VOA performance was analyzed. The PDL, the insertion loss at saturated voltage, and the operating voltage of the PDLC-based VOA were reduced by optimizing the fabrication conditions and applying a bias voltage to the PDLC cells during polymerization-induced phase separation.