Open AccessPolarization-insensitive mode-independent thermo-optic switch based on symmetric waveguide directional coupler
Author(s) -
Xibin Wang,
Kin Seng Chiang
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.27.035385
Subject(s) - optics , power dividers and directional couplers , extinction ratio , optical switch , polarization (electrochemistry) , multiplexing , waveguide , coupled mode theory , materials science , hybrid coupler , optoelectronics , physics , refractive index , wavelength , telecommunications , computer science , chemistry
We propose a thermo-optic switch based on a symmetric directional coupler formed with two parallel identical two-mode waveguides, where the two modes in one waveguide can be simultaneously switched to the corresponding modes in the other waveguide. We design and fabricate such a device with polymer materials. Our fabricated device has a total length of 22.5 mm and operates at a switching power of 128 mW. The extinction ratios measured across the C-band are higher than ∼18 dB and ∼13 dB for the fundamental mode and the higher-order mode, respectively. The switching time is ∼1 ms. The performance of the device is insensitive to the polarization state of light. Our proposed mode-independent switch could find applications in reconfigurable mode-division-multiplexing transmission systems.