Patent ID: 6463186
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical system for controlling light, the system comprising:first and second optical fibers that are physically coupled together as part of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, having a selected length Lc, each fiber having a first end and a second end; a source of light including light with a selected wavelength &lgr;, connected to the first end of the first fiber; a first control structure and a second control structure, surrounding and contiguous to the first and second fibers, respectively, in the optical coupling region, the first and second control structures including respective first and second magnetostrictive materials; and magnetic field means for impressing a first magnetic field of controllable induction strength on the first magnetostrictive material so that, when the impressed induction has a first selected value, a first selected amount of light is received at the second end of the first fiber, and when the impressed induction has a second selected value, a second selected amount of light is received at the second end of the first fiber, and for impressing a second magnetic field of a second controllable induction strength on the second magnetostrictive material so that, when the second impressed induction has a first selected value, a first selected amount of light is received at the second end of the second fiber, and when the second impressed induction has a second selected value, a second selected amount of light is received at the second end of the second fiber, wherein one of the first magnetostrictive material and the second magnetostrictive material has a positive magnetostrictive coefficient and the other of the first magnetostrictive material and the second magnetostrictive material has a negative magnetostrictive coefficient.