Optical power limiter

Abstract

An optical power limiter, a method of fabricating an optical power limiter, an optical device or system comprising an optical power limiter, and a method of limiting optical power using on optical power limiter. The optical power limiter comprises a first optical mode altering element configured to receive an input optical signal from a first waveguide; and an active medium coupled to the first optical mode altering element at a first end of the active medium such that a mode altered optical signal based on the input optical signal can enter the active medium, wherein a second end of the active medium is configured to couple the mode altered optical signal into a second waveguide as an optical output signal; wherein the active medium has a thermo-optic coefficient such that the mode altered optical signal entering the active medium experiences a refractive index gradient in the active medium as a result of absorption; and wherein the power of the optical output signal coupled into the second waveguide is limited to a maximum power value based on mode overlap of the mode altered optical signal and the second waveguide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.