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Optical switch

About: Optical switch is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 28538 publications have been published within this topic receiving 351176 citations.


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Patent
Victor Mizrahi1
14 Jun 1996
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a bidirectional WDM optical communication system, which includes two sets of optical transmitters for respectively creating a set of west-east optical channels and counter-propagating east-west optical channels.
Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional WDM optical communication system with bidirectional optical amplifiers for optically amplifying two counter-propagating WDM optical signals. The bidirectional system includes two sets of optical transmitters for respectively creating a set of west-east optical channels and a set of counter-propagating east-west optical channels. The respective channel sets are multiplexed by optical combiners and output to an optical transmission path. A bidirectional optical amplifier positioned in the optical transmission path amplifies the west-east and east-west WDM signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the amplifier includes at least two optical circulators with at least first, second, and third circulating ports. A gain block interconnects the circulators for optically amplifying the WDM signals. Bragg gratings configured to reflect either the west-east or the east-west channel band are positioned in optical paths which optically communicate with the optical circulators. The bidirectional WDM optical system further includes two receiving systems for demultiplexing the WDM signals and routing the individual optical channels to their respective receivers.

156 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A low-loss and broadband silicon thermo-optic switch is proposed and demonstrated experimentally by using a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with 2×2 3 dB power splitters based on bent directional couplers (DCs), which shows excellent reproducibility and good fabrication tolerance, which makes it promising for realizing N×N optical switches.
Abstract: A low-loss and broadband silicon thermo-optic switch is proposed and demonstrated experimentally by using a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with 2×2 3 dB power splitters based on bent directional couplers (DCs). The bent DCs are introduced here to replace the traditional 2×2 3 dB power splitters based on multimode interferometers or straight DCs, so that one achieves a coupling ratio of ∼50%∶ 50%, as well as low excess loss over a broadband. The demonstrated Mach-Zehnder switch (MZS) has a ∼140 nm bandwidth for an excess loss of 20 dB. The present MZS also shows excellent reproducibility and good fabrication tolerance, which makes it promising for realizing N×N optical switches.

155 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
12 Jun 1994
TL;DR: Algorithms are developed so that the WDM-based network architecture will provide a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths, and support a large and scalable number of users, given a limited number of wavelengths.
Abstract: Explores design principles for next generation optical wide-area networks, employing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), and targeted to nationwide coverage. This almost-all-optical network will exploit wavelength multiplexers and optical switches in routing nodes, so that arbitrary virtual topologies may be imbedded on a given physical network. The virtual topology, which is packet switched and which consists of a set of all-optical lightpaths, is set up to exploit the relative strengths of both optics and electronics viz. packets of information are carried by the virtual topology "as far as possible" in the optical domain, but packet forwarding from lightpath to lightpath is performed via electronic switching, whenever required. Algorithms are developed so that the WDM-based network architecture will (a) provide a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths, and (b) support a large and scalable number of users, given a limited number of wavelengths. The authors illustrate their approaches by employing experimental traffic statistics collected from NSFNET. >

155 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an experimental proof-of-principle for excitonic switching devices at approximately 100 k was demonstrated. But this was based on an AlAs/GaAs coupled quantum well structure.
Abstract: Photonic and optoelectronic devices may offer the opportunity to realize efficient signal processing at speeds higher than in conventional electronic devices. Switches form the building blocks for circuits, and fast photonic switches have been realized1,2,3,4,5,6. Recently, a proof of principle demonstration of exciton optoelectronic devices was reported7,8. The potential advantages of excitonic devices include high operation and interconnection speed, small dimensions and the opportunity to combine many elements into integrated circuits. Here, we demonstrate experimental proof of principle for the operation of excitonic switching devices at temperatures around 100 K. The devices are based on an AlAs/GaAs coupled quantum well structure and include the exciton optoelectronic transistor (EXOT), the excitonic bridge modulator (EXBM), and the excitonic pinch-off modulator (EXPOM). A two orders of magnitude increase in the operation temperature compared to earlier devices (1.5 K; refs 7,8) is achieved. Exciton optoelectronic devices have been demonstrated previously at an operating temperature of 1.5 K. Here, experimental proof-of-principle for excitonic switching devices at approximately 100 K is demonstrated. Excitonic devices promise high operation speed and optoelectronic integration in compact dimensions.

155 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate that a CCA of dyed particles embedded in a poly acrylamide hydrogel acts as a nanosecond optical Bragg diffraction switching device.
Abstract: Monodisperse, highly charged colloidal particles in low ionic strength solutions self-assemble into bcc or fcc crystalline colloidal arrays (CCAs) due to interparticle repulsive interactions. We demonstrate that a CCA of dyed particles embedded in a poly acrylamide hydrogel acts as a nanosecond optical Bragg diffraction switching device. Under low light intensities the CCA is refractive index matched to the medium and does not diffract. However, high intensity excitation within the dye absorption band heats the spheres within nanoseconds to decrease their refractive index. The array ``pops up'' to diffract light within 2.5 ns. These intelligent CCA hydrogels may have applications in optical limiting, computing, and nanosecond fast optical switching devices, etc.

154 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
202395
2022282
2021383
2020557
2019624
2018665