Design of a nanoelectromechanical high-index-contrast guided-wave optical switch for single-mode operation at 1.55 μm

Author

Povinelli, M.L. ; Bryant, R.E. ; Assefa, S. ; Johnson, S.G. ; Shanhui Fan ; Erchak, A.A. ; Petrich, G.S. ; Lidorikis, E. ; Joannopoulos, J.D. ; Kolodziejski, L.A. ; Ippen, E.P.

Author_Institution

Center for Mater. Sci. & Eng., Massachusetts Inst. of Technol., Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

15

Issue

9

fYear

2003

Firstpage

1207

Lastpage

1209

Abstract

A design is presented for a nanoelectromechanical optical switch based on the horizontal deflection of an input waveguide to align with one of two output waveguides. The use of high-index (GaAs) strip waveguides surrounded by air, designed to be single-mode at 1.55 μm, significantly decreases device dimensions as compared to previous designs. Design tradeoffs between optical and mechanical properties of the device are discussed. By means of three-dimensional numerical simulations, optical transmission is optimized for two different design strategies: butt and parallel coupling. High polarization-independent transmission (over 90%) is predicted for realistic design parameters.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; gallium arsenide; micro-optics; micromechanical devices; optical communication equipment; optical design techniques; optical switches; optical waveguides; 1.55 micron; GaAs; device dimensions; high index strip waveguides; horizontal deflection; input waveguide; mechanical properties; nanoelectromechanical high-index-contrast guided-wave optical switch; output waveguides; single-mode operation; three-dimensional numerical simulations; Design optimization; Gallium arsenide; Mechanical factors; Numerical simulation; Optical coupling; Optical design; Optical devices; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Strips;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2003.816706

Filename

1224581