Abstract

Integrated optics devices in LiNbO₃ have reached a significant maturity in recent years, reflected in the emerging commercial availability of devices such as modulators and switches. The applications for these devices range from high speed modulation in coherent and noncoherent systems, receiver chips in coherent systems, sensors and instrumentation to photonic switching and signal processing. Switches, in particular, are important components, due to the basic character of the switching function in time and space. This paper treats reported switch arrays, as well as some demonstrated applications; prospects for further deveploment are briefly discussed.

© 1989 Optical Society of America