Abstract
Fast optical circuit switches (OCSs) with high port count offer reconfigurable bandwidth in optical networks and have the potential to significantly increase the performance and efficiency of modern datacenters. In this paper, we report on a new type of integrated OCS that combines silicon photonics with MEMS actuation. The switch is built on a 50×50 passive crossbar network with very low optical loss (0.04 dB/crossing). Efficient switching is achieved by a pair of directional couplers with moving waveguides and an actuation voltage of 14 V. 2500 MEMS-actuated directional coupler switches have been integrated with the crossbar network to form a strictly nonblocking 50×50 OCS on a 9 mm×9 mm chip. The measured switching time is 2.5 μs, and the extinction ratio is 26 dB. To our knowledge, this is the largest silicon photonic switch reported to date. The switch architecture is highly scalable because the light travels through only one active switching element, regardless of the size of the switch.
Highlights
Optical circuit switches (OCSs) are essential building blocks in optical communication networks, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of the optical network
Promising candidates for such fast OCSs are based on silicon photonics technology
Since silicon photonics technology leverages complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing process technology, it is conducive to high-density integration, potentially including CMOS driving circuits [16,17]
Summary
Optical circuit switches (OCSs) are essential building blocks in optical communication networks, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of the optical network. Various OCSs have been presented, including 2D MEMS optical switches [1,2,3] or 3D MEMS optical cross connects (OXCs) [4,5,6,7] Such systems offer high port counts, including systems exceeding 100 × 100 input and output ports, and low insertion loss, typically less than 2 dB for any given optical connection. Recent studies have suggested that fast OCSs with microsecond switching time can significantly increase the performance and efficiency of datacenter networks [8,9]. Promising candidates for such fast OCSs are based on silicon photonics technology. A total of 2500 switching elements has been integrated monolithically to constitute a full 50 × 50 OCS on a die area of 9 mm × 9 mm, with a switching voltage of 14 V and a switching time of 2.5 μs
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