Low-Power Operation in a Silicon Switch Based on an Asymmetric Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structures are widely used as optical switches in photonic integrated circuits. However, power consumption is still the key parameter to make such devices practical in the silicon platform, particularly for those based on the thermo-optic effect. A new approach to significantly decrease the power consumption of a silicon switch based on an asymmetric MZI, together with an optimum selection of the operation wavelengths, is proposed. A power consumption reduction up to 50% is experimentally demonstrated in agreement with simulation results.