Abstract

Many integrated optics devices, such as directional couplers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers, have been developed for switching applications. Such devices rely on either wavevector matching or interference between two guided-wave modes. Typically the output states are controlled electrically by electro-optical tuning of the effective index of one or both waveguide modes. The effective index of an optical waveguide also depends on the guided-wave optical power when one or more of the waveguiding media exhibits an intensity-dependent refractive index. Therefore the operating characteristics of virtually every guided wave device can be controlled by the guided-wave power at the input ports.¹

© 1988 Optical Society of America