Compact and low driving power silica-based 1×N planar lightwave circuit switches with super high delta waveguides and heat insulating grooves

We have successfully realized compact 4-arrayed 1×8 and 1×128 PLC-SWs with a low driving power by using SHΔ waveguides and heat insulating grooves. A 4-arrayed 1×8SW had good optical characteristics, namely a loss of 2.0 dB and crosstalk of -50 dB, despite its compact and low power configuration. A 1×128SW also had good optical characteristics and low driving power, and was very compact, that is 1/3 the size of a previously developed SHΔ 1×128SW. Since these PLC-SWs are practical for use as compact and simple switch modules, they are applicable to large-scale optical switch systems such as optical cross connect and optical add-drop multiplexing systems.