Open AccessCompact thermo-optic MZI switch in silicon-on-insulator using direct carrier injection
Author(s) -
Manuel Mendez-Astudillo,
Masaki Okamoto,
Yoshiaki Ito,
Tomohiro Kita
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.000899
Subject(s) - materials science , interferometry , optics , silicon on insulator , optoelectronics , optical switch , mach–zehnder interferometer , waveguide , resistive touchscreen , interference (communication) , silicon , electrical engineering , physics , computer science , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , engineering
In this paper we present a compact direct current injection thermo-optic switch based on a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer configuration that is suitable for autonomous vehicle applications as it has a low heating resistance value of 97 Ω, a rapid 2.16 μs switching time constant, and a Pπ of 28 mW. The device relies on multimode interference to achieve low optical insertion losses of less than 1.1 dB per device, while allowing direct current injection to heat the waveguide and achieve fast operation speeds. Furthermore, the total resistive value can be tailored as the heating elements are placed in parallel.