Open AccessDesign of a digital, ultra-broadband electro-optic switch for reconfigurable optical networks-on-chip
Author(s) -
Joris Van Campenhout,
William M. J. Green,
Yurii A. Vlasov
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.023793
Subject(s) - optical switch , broadband , interferometry , insertion loss , crossover switch , optical cross connect , switching time , mach–zehnder interferometer , optoelectronics , optics , bandwidth (computing) , optical transistor , silicon photonics , materials science , computer science , photonics , voltage , physics , electrical engineering , telecommunications , transistor , optical fiber , engineering
We present a novel design for a noise-tolerant, ultra-broadband electro-optic switch, based on a Mach-Zehnder lattice (MZL) interferometer. We analyze the switch performance through rigorous optical simulations, for devices implemented in silicon-on-insulator with carrier-injection-based phase shifters. We show that such a MZL switch can be designed to have a step-like switching response, resulting in improved tolerance to drive-voltage noise and temperature variations as compared to a single-stage Mach-Zehnder switch. Furthermore, we show that degradation in switching crosstalk and insertion loss due to free-carrier absorption can be largely overcome by a MZL switch design. Finally, MZL switches can be designed for having an ultra-wide, temperature-insensitive optical bandwidth of more than 250 nm. The proposed device shows good potential as a broadband optical switch in reconfigurable optical networks-on-chip.