Title :
Multimode interference photonic switches (MIPS)
Author :
Nagai, Shuichi ; Morishima, Goh ; Inayoshi, Hirokazu ; Utaka, Katsuyuki
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Sci. & Eng., Waseda Univ., Tokyo, Japan
fDate :
4/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The switching characteristics of multimode interference photonic switches (MIPS) are analyzed by wide-angle finite difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM). As a result, it is found that the MIPS with a multimode interference (MMI) length of 599 μm can switch the output light polarization insensitively with a crosstalk of less than -20 dB for a wavelength range of 70 nm. These analyses show that the MIPS can also have a 3-dB coupler function. Experimentally, an InGaAsP/InP 1×2 MIPS with a thicker InP cladding layer was fabricated and exhibited switching operation with crosstalks of -8 dB and -10 dB at 0 and 20 mA current injections, respectively. For a 2×2 MIPS with a thinner InP cladding layer, better switching characteristics with a crosstalk of -13 dB and an extinction ratio of 17 dB were realized
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; finite difference methods; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; light interference; optical crosstalk; optical switches; optical waveguide theory; wavelength division multiplexing; 0 to 20 mA; 599 micron; InGaAsP-InP; InGaAsP/InP; InP cladding layer; crosstalk; current injections; extinction ratio; multimode interference length; multimode interference photonic switches; output light polarization; switching characteristics; switching operation; wide-angle finite difference beam propagation method; Crosstalk; Finite difference methods; Indium phosphide; Interference; Optical devices; Optical filters; Optical polarization; Optical propagation; Optical switches; WDM networks;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
