Low driving voltage or current digital optical switch on InP for multiwavelength system applications

Abstract

Low driving voltage or current digital optical switches based on carrier effects in InP/GaInAsP have been fully demonstrated for both TE and TM polarisations of light. Crosstalk better than 12.1 and 15.2 dB have been obtained for polarisation independent operation with, respectively, a voltage as low as – 10 V and a current as low as 6 mA. These functionalities have been demonstrated in the 1.52–1.57 μm wavelength range which is suitable for multiwavelength system applications.