Abstract

Mode division multiplexing (MDM) has provided a new trend in high capacity optical transmission systems. Some of the most important devices in MDM systems are multimode switches that can route signals simultaneously into different paths. In this work, a two-mode ${{1}} \times {{2}}$ optical switch based on an asymmetric directional coupler and using Sb₂Se₃ phase-change material is proposed with a compact size of ${{45}}\;{\rm{\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m}}} \times {{6}}\;{\rm{\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m}}}$. This switch can route the fundamental and first transverse magnetic modes in a wide bandwidth in the third telecommunication window from 1535 to 1565 nm. According to the 3D finite-difference time-domain simulation results, this switch has a low insertion loss of 0.83 dB and cross talk of ${-}{7.93}\;{\rm{dB}}$ across the bandwidth in the “on” state. In addition, when the switch is off, it has suitable specifications in terms of insertion loss and cross talk with values lower than 0.29 dB and ${-}{11.98}\;{\rm{dB}}$ across the bandwidth, respectively.

© 2022 Optica Publishing Group

Compact, broadband, and low-loss multimode optical switch based on phase-change material for mode division multiplexing systems

Ali Atri, Abbas Zarifkar, and Kolsoom Mehrabi
Appl. Opt. 61(7) 1784-1790 (2022)

Ultra-compact integrated photonic switch using miniature phase change material inserted in a slot waveguide

Hao Shi, Lei Zhang, Lin Wang, Zhenjiang Li, Yang Gao, Yanqing Wu, and Renzhong Tai
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 40(9) 2365-2371 (2023)

Multichannel mode-selective silicon photonic add/drop multiplexer with phase change material

Yihui Wei, Ming Zhang, and Daoxin Dai
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 37(11) 3341-3350 (2020)

Numerical modeling of an integrated non-volatile reflector switch and mode converter switch based on a low loss phase change material (Sb₂Se₃) in SiN platforms

Rajib Ratan Ghosh and Anuj Dhawan
Opt. Mater. Express 12(11) 4268-4283 (2022)

Design of high extinction ratio, low loss, and compact optical modulators and switches based on GST phase change material

Ali Mahmoodi, Mehdi Miri, Mohammad Hossein Sheikhi, and Sohrab Mohammadi Pouyan
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 38(11) 3261-3268 (2021)