Patent ID: 8463090
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. An optical fuse or energy-switching-off device, comprising an optical waveguide having an input section and an output section, the two sections forming a pair of opposed surfaces extending transversely through the axes of said waveguide sections, and a substantially transparent material disposed between said opposed surfaces and comprising a non-touching, electrically conductive nanotubes web or graphene pieces web immersed in dielectric material, where the nanotubes are not in electrical contact with each other or the graphene pieces are not in electrical contact with each other, said substantially transparent material forming a plasma when exposed to optical signals propagating within said optical waveguide with an optical power level above a predetermined threshold, said plasma damaging said opposed surfaces sufficiently to render said surfaces substantially opaque to light propagating within said input section of said optical waveguide so as to prevent the transmission of such light.