Optical Switch by Light Intensity Control in Cascaded Coupled Waveguides

Hiroki KISHIKAWA
Nobuo GOTO

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Electronics   Vol.E90-C    No.2    pp.492-498
Publication Date: 2007/02/01
Online ISSN: 1745-1353
DOI: 10.1093/ietele/e90-c.2.492
Print ISSN: 0916-8516
Type of Manuscript: PAPER
Category: Lasers, Quantum Electronics
Keyword: 
optical switch,  optical coupler,  coupled-mode theory,  finite-difference beam-propagation method,  wavelength-selectivity,  

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Summary: 
Lightwave switching is discussed with a cascaded connection of optical couplers with light intensity control elements. By employing wavelength-selective amplifiers such as a waveguide-type Raman amplifier, all-optical wavelength-selective switching can be realized. We discuss analytically using coupled-mode theory that the lightwave switching is feasible by controlling the intensity of propagating lightwave. The switching operation is verified numerically using finite-difference beam-propagation method. As a result, the expected operation is realized and some characteristics involved with dependencies of wavelength and phase are also investigated. A preliminary experiment using attenuators, beam splitters and mirrors is also described to verify the switching operation with only light-intensity control in interferometers.