Abstract

A nanomechanical optical fibre with a mechanically adjustable dual-core structure has been demonstrated recently [1]. The realisation of equivalent systems with an electric actuation would allow for low-loss all-fibre reconfigurable optical networks. Here we investigate the feasibility of nanoelectromechanical actuation of the dual-core fibre. Such optical systems with mechanically adjustable or controllable components are well known in the form of silicon micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS) and are widely used in various optoelectronic devices, for example 2-D optical switches and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers.

© 2013 IEEE