Mach-Zehnder switch using an ultra-compact directional coupler in a strongly-confining rib structure

Author

Janz, C.F. ; Keyworth, B.P. ; Allegretto, W. ; MacDonald, R.I. ; Fallahi, M. ; Hillier, G. ; Rolland, C.

Author_Institution

Telecommun. Res. Lab., Edmonton, Alta., Canada

Volume

6

Issue

8

fYear

1994

Firstpage

981

Lastpage

983

Abstract

A quantum well Mach-Zehnder switch operating at 1.55 μm, fabricated in a strongly-confining rib waveguide structure, and employing a multi-mode 3-dB output coupler only 40 μm long, is described. The device yields almost 10 dB of contrast between outputs at 3 V bias, with 4.3 dB of excess coupler loss. The total cleaved device length is only 1.5 mm, and high bandwidth (15 GHz) operability is anticipated. A simple computer model of the coupler is in good agreement with the measured results, and predicts enhanced performance with a small increase in the coupler length.

Keywords

electro-optical devices; integrated optics; optical couplers; optical losses; optical switches; semiconductor quantum wells; 1.5 mm; 1.55 mum; 15 GHz; 3 V; 4.3 dB; Mach-Zehnder switch; computer model; contrast; coupler length; enhanced performance; excess coupler loss; high bandwidth; multi-mode; output coupler; quantum well Mach-Zehnder switch; rib waveguide structure; strongly-confining rib structure; total cleaved device length; ultra-compact directional coupler; Coupling circuits; Directional couplers; Etching; Optical coupling; Optical devices; Optical waveguides; Propagation constant; Semiconductor waveguides; Switches; Waveguide components;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.313070

Filename

313070