Multimode achromatic electro-optic waveguide switch for fiber-optic communications

Abstract

A three-port multimode electro-optic switch has been fabricated in a thin c-cut plate of LiNbO3 using opposed stripe-and-plane electrodes to create field-induced channel waveguides. Fringing electric fields provided multimode optical coupling between channels. Using butt coupling to connect the device into a multimode fiber link, voltage-controlled switching of laser and white-light radiation have been demonstrated.