Lb. Aronson et L. Hesselink, ANALYSIS AND DEMONSTRATION OF AN INTEGRATED OPTICAL SWITCH BASED ON DYNAMIC FREE-CARRIER GRATINGS - A BLUEPRINT FOR A 100X100 ELEMENT SWITCH ARRAY, IEEE journal of quantum electronics, 30(10), 1994, pp. 2332-2349
We propose, analyze, and demonstrate a new type of integrated optical
switch based on dynamic free carrier gratings at the intersection of c
rossing waveguides. A low efficiency, nonregrowth device was fabricate
d to demonstrate the dynamic free carrier grating concept. Experimenta
l dynamic diffraction efficiency results measured as a function of wav
elength for various polarization cases are analyzed using the models d
eveloped here, and are found to be in good agreement with theory. Theo
retical calculations for higher efficiency designs with more involved
fabrication requirements indicate that high speed 100 x 100 element sw
itch arrays, with good polarization independent diffraction efficiency
(40%), and thus low insertion loss, can be fabricated on a single sub
strate.