Remotely controlled integrated directional coupler switch

In this paper experimental results concerning the remote control of a bistable directional coupler switch are reported. It is shown that the output light from the coupler can be switched from one channel to the other via switching information contained in the incident light itself. The principle of operation of the device is demonstrated using a coupler fabricated in an LiNbO3substrate. A switching time of the order of 100 μs has been obtained, limited only by the electronic feedback loop used in the experiment.