Two-dimensional design and analysis of trench-coupler based Silicon Mach-Zehnder thermo-optic switch

Optical switches are key components for routing of light transmission paths in data links. Existing waveguide-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switches occupy a significant amount of real estate on-chip. Here we propose a compact Silicon MZI thermo-optic 2 × 2 photonic switch, consisting of two frustrated total internal reflection (TIR) trench couplers and TIR mirror-based 90° waveguide bends, forming a rectangular MZI configuration. The switch allows for reconfigurable design footprints due to selected control of the optical signal being transmitted and reflected at the 90° crosses and bends. Our analysis results show that the switch exhibits a chip size of 42 µm × 42 µm, the extinction ratio of ~14 dB, the rise and fall time of 20 μs and 16 μs, and the low switching voltage and power of 0.35 V and 26 mW, respectively. This device configuration can readily scale its pattern at the two-dimensional directions, making them attractive for Silicon photonic integrated circuits.