Slow-light total-internal-reflection switch with bending angle of 30 deg

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical engineering
• Semiconductor device physics

Background:

• Miniaturization of optical switches is crucial for integrated photonics.
• Slow light in Bragg reflector waveguides offers potential for compact optical devices.
• Carrier injection is a viable method for modulating optical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To miniaturize optical waveguide switches using slow light.
• To achieve a giant equivalent refractive index change via carrier injection.
• To fabricate and characterize a reflection-type slow-light switch.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing slow light in a Bragg reflector waveguide.
• Employing carrier injection near a cutoff wavelength to induce refractive index changes.
• Fabricating and characterizing a reflection-type slow-light switch with an oxide aperture.

Main Results:

• A giant equivalent refractive index change was realized through carrier injection.
• The reflection-type switch demonstrated distinct on and off states.
• A large bending angle of 30° was achieved using total internal reflection of slow light.

Conclusions:

• Slow light in Bragg reflector waveguides enables miniaturized optical switches.
• Carrier-induced refractive index modulation is effective for switch operation.
• The demonstrated switch shows potential for high-performance integrated photonic circuits.