• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2005

By incorporating large core polymer waveguides, which have been developed for increased alignment tolerance in passive fiber attachment, highly efficient variable optical attenuators are proposed. In order to find optimum device structures, 3-dimensional beam propagation method (BPM) simulations are performed. Heat distribution over the polymer film is calculated to find the 3-dimensional index profile data for the BPM simulation. Due to the small index contrast between the core and cladding materials in the large core waveguide, heat-induced radiation occurs for small heating power. While the ordinary VOA needs the temperature to change over $150^{\circ}C$ for 20 dB attenuation, the large core VOA requires only $70^{\circ}C$. In addition to the merit of passive fiber attachment, the proposed VOA has enhanced attenuation efficiency for the lower temperature change.