Tunable devices based on dynamic positioning of micro-fluids in micro-structured optical fiber

We present an approach for manipulating light in an optical micro-structured photonic crystal fiber by displacing and positioning micro-fluids along the air-holes of the fiber. Efficient interaction is achieved between modal fields and fluids incorporated in the air-hole at certain positions along the fiber. This interaction is studied by using beam propagation method. We describe here two different systems of this type: one that allows for variable-wavelength-selective attenuation and another that provides switchable broadband attenuation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.