Micromachined Fiber Optic Sensor Multiplexer (Q-DOT Research Proposal 9528)

Q-DOT proposes to continue development of a low-loss micromachined optical switch using MEMS technology. The switch is suitable for mass fabrication and for construction of a fiber optic sensor multiplexer. The main goal of this phase is to verify the low-loss characteristic of the switch. Insertion loss of the switch is projected to be less than 1 dB -- switching speeds are submicrosecond. A secondary goal is to develop alignment methods for the switch and the input and output wavequides. The system aspects of the multiplexer will be addressed in Phase I. The switch is designed to be fabricated as multiple switches on a single substrate, so it is compact and low cost. The switch has no inherent wavelength limitations and is useable at wavelengths currently used with single mode fibers. In Phase II, a complete multiplexer will be constructed.