Abstract

We have previously made an all-fiber 2×2 acousto-optic switching element from a fused coupler.¹ Here we describe a similar 3×3 switch. Two of three identical fibers are narrowed (pre-tapered) by different amounts, before all three are fused and elongated together to form the coupler. If the three diameters are sufficiently different, the result is a "null" coupler; light of any wavelength entering in a particular fiber will leave the coupler from the far end of the same fiber.

© 1996 Optical Society of America