Abstract

A fiber optic integrated modulation-depth-tunable modulator based on a type of hollow optical fiber with suspended core is proposed and investigated. We synthesized magnetic fluid containing superparamagnetic ${\mathrm{Fe}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_4$ nanoparticles and encapsulated it in the hollow optical fiber as the cladding layer of the suspended core by fusing the hollow optical fiber with the multimode optical fibers. The light with a wavelength of 632.8 nm is coupled in and out of the modulating element by a tapering technique. Experimental results show that the light attenuation in the system can be greatly influenced by only $2.0\times {10}^{-2}\mathrm{\mu L}$ of the magnetic fluid under different magnetic field strengths. The saturated modulation depth is 43% when the magnetic field strength is 489 Oe. The response time of the system is $<120\mathrm{ms}$. Significantly, this work presents information for the development of all-fiber modulators, including other integrated electro-optic devices, such as optical switch, optical fiber filter, and magnetic sensors utilizing the special structure of this hollow optical fiber with suspended core and superparamagnetic magnetic fluid.

©2012 Optical Society of America

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