Polarization-independent all-wave polymer-based TIR thermooptic switch

Author

Wang, Xiaolong ; Howley, Brie ; Chen, Maggie Y. ; Chen, Ray T.

Author_Institution

Microelectron. Res. Center, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX

Volume

24

Issue

3

fYear

2006

fDate

3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1558

Lastpage

1565

Abstract

The optimal design of a polymer-based thermooptic (TO) switch using a total internal reflection (TIR) effect is proposed to improve switching performance. Numerical calculations show that this type of optical switch can achieve an ultrabroad optical bandwidth as well as a low polarization dependent loss. The devices fabricated with different half branch angles consume driving powers from 25 to 66 mW. The switches also show fiber-to-fiber insertion losses at 2.8 dB and polarization dependent losses (PDLs) at 0.2 dB. The measured rising and falling times are 1.5 and 2 ms, respectively. The optical bandwidth of the devices, which is limited by the material absorption from the fluorinated polymer, is quite large extending from 630 to 1630 nm

Keywords

optical communication equipment; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical losses; optical polymers; optical switches; thermo-optical devices; 0.2 dB; 1.5 ms; 2 ms; 2.8 dB; 25 to 66 mW; TIR thermooptic switch; fiber-to-fiber insertion loss; material absorption; optical bandwidth; polarization dependent loss; total internal reflection effect; Bandwidth; Insertion loss; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber losses; Optical fiber polarization; Optical losses; Optical polarization; Optical polymers; Optical reflection; Optical switches; Optical switch; polymer waveguide; thermooptic (TO) effect; total internal reflection (TIR);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2005.863236

Filename

1605361