DIGITAL FREE-SPACE PHOTONIC SWITCH STRUCTURE USING EXCITON ABSORPTIONREFLECTION SWITCH (EARS) ARRAYS

This letter proposes a novel digital free-space photonic switch struct ure using exciton absorption reflection switch (EARS) arrays. This swi tch structure uses microbeam interconnections suitable for a compact s witch fabric. The low-loss interconnection necessary for high-speed op eration can be achieved by using an optical circuit based on birefring ent plates. An experimental switch (based on an 8 X 8 EARS array) with fiber array pigtails is fabricated and used to demonstrate 2-input, 2 -output switching of 8-Mb/s signals. This digital switch may be applic able to large-scale, multistage switching networks for broadband telec ommunication switching systems.