Abstract

A new optical switch element is proposed for a switching system which exchanges optical signals in optical transmission lines without optoelectric conversion. It consists of three parallel equidistant straight single-mode waveguides fabricated of an electrooptic material with electrodes deposited on them. The element, whose interaction length is π/(2)^1/2k (k is the coupling coefficient of neighboring guides), serves as a 3 × 3 optical switch by control of the differences in propagation constants between those waveguides. Control conditions to realize all the six connecting states of a 3 × 3 switch are discussed with the solution of the coupling equation for those guides.

© 1978 Optical Society of America

Optical waveguide 3×3 switch: theory of tuning and control

Haruo Ogiwara
Appl. Opt. 18(4) 510-515 (1979)

Rib waveguide switches with MOS electrooptic control for monolithic integrated optics in GaAs-Al_xGa_1−xAs

J. C. Shelton, F. K. Reinhart, and R. A. Logan
Appl. Opt. 17(16) 2548-2555 (1978)

Moving optical-fiber switch experiment

Hisao Yamamoto and Haruo Ogiwara
Appl. Opt. 17(22) 3675-3678 (1978)

Mirror-type optical branch and switch

H. Naitoh, K. Muto, and T. Nakayama
Appl. Opt. 17(1) 101-104 (1978)

Mirror-type optical switch array

H. Naitoh, S. Noda, K. Muto, and T. Nakayama
Appl. Opt. 17(24) 3975-3978 (1978)