Hitless wavelength-selective switch with quadruple series-coupled microring resonators using multiple-quantum-well waveguides

We demonstrate a hitless wavelength-selective switch (WSS) based on InGaAs/InAlAs five-layer asymmetric coupled quantum well (FACQW) quadruple series-coupled microring resonators. The WSS is driven by the electric-field-induced change in refractive index in the FACQW core layer caused by the quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE) for high-speed operation. The WSS with high-mesa waveguides is fabricated on a molecular beam epitaxy-grown wafer by dry etching. The fabricated WSS consists of four microrings, each with a round-trip length of 350 μm and five directional couplers with shallow grooves. A boxlike spectral response and hitless switching with higher extinction ratios than a double series-coupled microring resonator are successfully demonstrated. In addition, we propose the improvement of switching characteristics by controlling the coupling efficiencies at the directional couplers.