1x2 optofluidic few-mode waveguide optical switch

Abstract

Based on optofluidics and the principle of total internal reflection, a 1×2 few-mode waveguide optical switch is proposed. The proposed few-mode optical switch has small volume, low insertion loss and simple structure. It can be directly connected with a few-mode fiber to reduce the coupling loss. The mode field distribution and transmission characteristics of the two-mode switch (LP01 and LP11) are discussed. After the optical switch structure parameters are optimized, the minimum insertion losses are respectively 0.54 dB and 0.42 dB at two output ports, and the crosstalks are respectively -20.4 dB and -48.0 dB. The transmission characteristics of the four-mode switch (LP01, LP11, LP02 and LP21) are also analyzed. The insertion losses of four-mode optical switch are less than 0.34 dB, and the crosstalks are less than -23.19 dB. Our work provides a new method for seeking high-performance, miniaturized and integrated fewmode optical switches.