Abstract

Photonic switching will play a key role in the implementation of optically transparent network reconfiguration, routing in high-speed optical LANs, and optical cross-connects. Digital optical switches are attractive for these applications because they switch completely, are insensitive to variations in polarization and wavelength, and are more tolerant of fabrication uncertainties than are conventional directional-coupler-type switches. Fabricated in a semiconductor material, they can be easily cascaded and integrated with other active devices. In addition, the switch's wavelength independence makes it suitable for application in WDM networks.

© 1995 Optical Society of America