In this paper, a new type of waveguide switch-field induced dynamic optical waveguide switch is presented. The switching mechanism is based on electric-field induced dynamic waveguiding effect in nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate (KTN) crystals. By applying an electric field at different locations, different waveguide paths are created, which result in different output locations. The major advantages of this unique optical switch are broad bandwidth, covering the entire 1300 nm – 1600 nm fiber optic communication window, and ultrafast switching speed (on the order of nanosecond), which can be very useful for next generation optical networks such as the one used in data center networks.

Date Published: 5 September 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9200, Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications VIII, 92000X (5 September 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2065590

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9200:
Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications VIII
Shizhuo Yin; Ruyan Guo, Editor(s)