A novel 2 × 2 multi-arm type of optical switch using multimode interference couplers

[摘要] References(9)Cited-By(1)We have proposed a novel 2 × 2 optical switch using multimode interference (MMI) coupler. This switch comprises four arms, located between two MMI couplers, and works by controlling a phase shifter, situated in each arm. Compared with conventional Mach-Zehnder type of optical switches, BPM simulation of this device predicted a high tolerance to fabrication errors. We fabricated the device with silica waveguides, and confirmed that it functioned with an insertion loss of 4.1dB and an extinction ratio of about 20dB.

[学科分类] 电子、光学、磁材料

[关键词] optical switch;multimode interference coupler;multi-arm;Mach-Zehnder