Analysis of semiconductor intersectional waveguide optical switch-modulator

Transmission and reflection characteristics and wavelength chirping of a guided mode in a semiconductor intersectional optical switch-modulator are analyzed by considering the electric field-induced refractive index variation along with the absorption loss variation. The refractive index and absorption ratio, α¯_p, is shown to determine the performance of the switch-modulator. A transmission port is suitable for a modulation with a high extinction ratio, low insertion loss, and small wavelength chirping. The insertion loss at the reflection port depends heavily on α¯_p. A low insertion loss and high extinction ratio intersectional optical switch is possible when -α¯_p is higher than 10, which can be realized with a quantum box structure