Abstract :
Space-division optical switches are key devices for achieving wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical-path cross-connect (OXC) functions, and optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM) functions for future photonic network systems designed to offer multimedia communication at a high bit rate. Silica-based thermooptic switches, which employ planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology, are promising devices for use in practical systems. This is because they offer many advantages including low insertion loss, polarization-insensitive operation, long-term stability, the feasibility of large-scale integration, and moreover are suitable for mass-production. In this presentation, we describe recent progress on our silica-based thermooptic switches. The fabricated large-scale thermooptic switches considered include: an N×N matrix switch, a 1×N tree structure switch and an ADM switch
Keywords :
optical crosstalk; optical planar waveguides; photonic switching systems; silicon compounds; space division multiplexing; thermo-optical effects; wavelength division multiplexing; 1 by N tree structure switch; ADM switch; N by N matrix switch; SiO2; high bit rate; large-scale integration; long-term stability; low insertion loss; mass-production; multimedia communication; optical add/drop multiplexing functions; optical-path cross-connect functions; photonic network systems; planar lightwave circuit; polarization-insensitive operation; silica-based thermooptic switches; space-division optical switches; wavelength-division-multiplexing; Add-drop multiplexers; Communication switching; Multimedia communication; Optical add-drop multiplexers; Optical design; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical switches; WDM networks; Wavelength division multiplexing;
