Magneto-optic based fiber switch for optical communications

In this paper, the use of the Faraday effect in a optical on-off switch is investigated for application in wide spread usage in fiber networks. This is the first reported magneto-optic switch for optical fiber networks. Light does not exit from the fiber except when propagating into the MO rotator, thus this is an all fiber switch. The extinction ratio was stabilized and faster switching was observed when the domain walls are pinned and only rotation occurred. Integrated magnetooptics is the final frontier for the improvement of the device characteristics as well as the commercialization of such a magneto-optic switch. Finally the issues of implementation and operation of the integrated magneto-optical switch and the techniques of growing high quality garnet thin films for this purpose are demonstrated.