Multifunctional integrated photonic switches
Date
2005Source Title
IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Print ISSN
1077-260X
Electronic ISSN
1558-4542
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
86 - 96
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Traditional optical-electronic-optical (o-e-o) conversion in today’s optical networks requires cascading separately
packaged electronic and optoelectronic chips and propagating
high-speed electrical signals through and between these discrete
modules. This increases the packaging and component costs,
size, power consumption, and heat dissipation. As a remedy, we
introduce a novel, chip-scale photonic switching architecture that
operates by confining high-speed electrical signals in a compact
optoelectronic chip and provides multiple network functions on
such a single chip. This new technology features low optical and
electrical power consumption, small installation space, high-speed
operation, two-dimensional scalability, and remote electrical
configurability.
In this paper, we present both theoretical and experimental
discussion of our monolithically integrated photonic switches that
incorporate quantum-well waveguide modulators directly driven
by on-chip surface-illuminated photodetectors. These switches
can be conveniently arrayed two-dimensionally on a single chip to
realize a number of network functions. Of those, we have experimentally demonstrated arbitrary wavelength conversion across 45
nm and dual-wavelength broadcasting over 20 nm, both spanning
the telecommunication center band (1530–1565 nm) at switching
speeds up to 2.5 Gb/s. Our theoretical calculations predict the
capability of achieving optical switching at rates in excess of 10
Gb/s using milliwatt-level optical and electrical switching powers.