Abstract

Waveguide switches are required for the development of many monolithic integrated optical circuits (IOCs) to provide modulation and selective routing of optical signals. For many applications, low crosstalk (e.g., 20 dB) between the signals is necessary. It is especially desirable to develop such switches in GaAs-based compounds because of the potential to fabricate integrated laser sources. This paper reviews progress in the development of these semiconductor waveguide switches. Other semiconductor waveguide modulators (e.g., electroabsorption) will also be discussed briefly.

© 1978 Optical Society of America