Title :
Suppressed modal interference switches with integrated curved amplifiers for scaleable photonic crossconnects
Author :
Fish, Gregory A. ; Coldren, Larry A. ; DenBaars, Stephen P.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., California Univ., Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Abstract :
A novel, compact optical switch that incorporates two 1/spl times/2 suppressed modal interference (SMI) switches with an integrated curved amplifier is demonstrated as a basic component for scaleable, lossless photonic crossconnects. The basic operation of the switch is described and measured on/off ratios of 22 dB (16 dB) are reported for the cross (bar) state with switching currents of less than 25 mA per section. Lossless switching was attained in the amplified cross state, while only 0.5 dB of excess loss was measured in the unamplified bar state. Cascading of these elements should lead to N/spl times/N lossless, optical crossconnects with crosstalk levels near 40 dB.
Keywords :
integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; optical couplers; optical crosstalk; optical fibre networks; optical interconnections; optical losses; photonic switching systems; quantum well lasers; semiconductor laser arrays; 0.5 dB; 25 mA; InGaAsP-InP; MQW active region; amplified cross state; basic operation; cascading; compact optical switch; cross bar state; crosstalk levels; excess loss; integrated curved amplifiers; lossless photonic crossconnects; lossless switching; on/off ratios; optical networks; photonic space switches; scaleable photonic crossconnects; suppressed modal interference switches; switching currents; unamplified bar state; Insertion loss; Interference suppression; Marine animals; Optical amplifiers; Optical crosstalk; Optical losses; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
