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Push-pull microring-assisted space-and-wavelength selective switch
Optics Letters
|May 16, 2020
Summary
We developed a new space-and-wavelength selective switch using microring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometers. This novel design offers efficient, compact optical switching with high performance for future communication networks.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optical Communications
- Integrated Optics
Background:
- Existing optical switches often require complex architectures, including wavelength (de)multiplexers or parallel planes.
- Developing compact and efficient devices for space-and-wavelength selective switching is crucial for advanced optical networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel design for a space-and-wavelength selective switch.
- To demonstrate the capabilities of microring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometers in optical switching applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometers with overcoupled microring resonators.
- Employed a push-pull scheme for driving the phase shifters.
- Designed and demonstrated a 2×2×2λ elementary switch block.
Main Results:
- Achieved full spatial and spectral switching capabilities.
- Exceeded 21 dB in crosstalk suppression and extinction ratio.
- Measured over 75 GHz optical bandwidth per channel.
- Demonstrated a low power penalty (<1.5 dB at 10⁻⁹ BER) with simultaneous 32 Gbps signals.
Conclusions:
- The proposed microring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometer switch offers a compact and high-performance solution.
- This technology enables advanced switch fabrics without requiring wavelength (de)multiplexers or parallel planes.
- Paves the way for more efficient and scalable optical network architectures.
