Optically transparent switching in telecommunications using ferroelectric liquid crystals over silicon VLSI circuits

Optical interconnections are also used in the heart of large electronic systems, such as the STM or ATM switches. Here the motivation is to avoid the bandwidth and connectivity limitations inherent in electrical connections at various levels in the structure, ultimately down to the level of the silicon integrated circuits. Optics should support the capabilities of silicon VLSI and ease the interconnection bottleneck in these large connection-intensive electronic systems. This paper reviews progress with fibre to fibre optical space switches using ferroelectric liquid crystal over silicon VLSI spatial light modulators that might find application in route protection switches, optical crossconnects or routers.