Dynamic characteristics of optical intersecting-waveguide modulators/switches with curved electrodes

The dynamic behavior of optical modulators/switches in the form of intersecting waveguides with curved electrodes is formulated. It is shown that the electrode curvature is very effective in achieving reflected pulses in good resemblance to the incident ones. Further, the speed of operation is found to be high and is shown to depend upon the commonly known capacitance of the device and the time required for refractive index variations to settle down; and also upon the relative pulsewidths of the optical and modulating signals and the extent of their synchronization. The intersection angle is found to influence the propagation delays of the spatial components, which are equalized by properly chosen structural parameters, to achieve unbroadened and undistorted output pulses. The flexibility in the bandwidth of even a fabricated device, through adjustment of the driving conditions, is demonstrated and the capability of such devices to handle a very wide range of optical pulsewidths is clarified.