Where to Buy Variable Optical Attenuators

AeroDIODE has developed the variable optical attenuator – a high-speed intensity modulator and optical switch based on a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). It is available over a wide wavelength range from 750 to 1650 nm. Key features are high speed (down to 1 ns rise/fall time), high dynamic range (>48 dB), high extinction ratio (>50 dB) and an easy to use graphical user interface with multiple software libraries (LabVIEW, Python etc.). AeroDIODE also offers the semiconductor optical amplifier alone or the SOA driver in either CW or pulsed configuration.

AeroDIODE also offers a wide range of fiber coupled AOMs (Acousto Optic Modulators) with various types of digital (TTL) or analog RF drivers.

See also our white paper/tutorial on fiber-coupled modulators.

AMS Techno­logies carries a broad range of variable fiber-optic attenuators (VOAs), for manual operation as well as driven by stepper motors, MEMS mirrors or shutters, or based on liquid crystals:

• manually operated, PCB mountable, blocking VOAs
• manual VOAs with neutral density filter for MM
• manual VOAs, reflection mode
• motor driven VOAs
• MEMS-based VOAs, coaxial-style, miniature or ultra-small
• single or dual MEMS-based VOAs, reflection or transmission mode
• MEMS-based VOA arrays, 4 to 40 channels
• micromechanical shutter VOAs

LASEROPTIK can provide coatings for variable optical attenuators. One can change the transmission by tilting an edge filter, with highest transmission at normal incidence and typical operation for angles of incidence between 0° and 45°.

Quantifi Photonics' offers a range of extremely compact, cost-effective variable optical attenuators designed for streamlined testing and characterization of optical communication systems and optical components. They provide fast attenuation speed with low insertion loss and built-in power monitoring, with fixed attenuation or constant output power modes and supports single-mode, multi-mode and polarization-maintaining fibres.

EKSMA Optics has variable attenuators for high power Nd:YAG laser or femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser applications.