Integrated optical waveguide switches in SOI

Abstract

We report on the first 1/spl times/2 and 2/spl times/2 waveguide switches based on single-moded rib-waveguides in SOI. The switches are based on the thermo-optical effect and require switching powers of 85 mW at a wavelength of/spl lambda/=1.3 /spl mu/m. Optical device losses of 7 dB (cross talk -6 dB) for the 1/spl times/2-switch and 8 dB (cross talk -5 dB) for the 2/spl times/2-switch have been obtained including Fresnel losses of 2.4 dB.