Optical routing element using semiconductor nonlinear optical waveguides

Abstract

An assessment is given of the characteristics of coupled nonlinear rib-structure optical waveguides for utilization in an optical coupled guide cross-point switch (CGCPS). The CGCPS is effective for the practical design of electrically controlledcompact optical switches.1 The novel concept in the CGCPS is to effect optical switching at the junctions between orthogonally arranged input and output channels by creating a parallel optical power tap only at the junction between the input channel and the required output channel. Using III–V semiconductor optical waveguides this arrangement has been shown2 to permit the fabrication of compact switching elements suitable for multiport switching networks. In the present work, the novel features of the CGCPS design are combined with the properties of semiconductor nonlinear optical waveguides to achieve optically controlled signal routing. The analysis procedure adopted here represents an extension of our earlier studies of both isolated and coupled nonlinear optical waveguides. In this way we have been able to give consideration to the engineering requirements of an all-optical cross-point switch.