Abstract

Motivated by the demonstration of all optical switching in a silica glass fiber, we are investigating the use of dye-doped polymer optical fiber as the switching medium. Because of the dye’s larger nonlinear response, devices in the 1 meter length range are possible. Measurements of the intensity dependent phase shift in these fibers are already within an order of magnitude of providing a π phase shift. In this contribution we report on the switching characteristics of a first generation Sagnac switch.

© 1995 Optical Society of America