Abstract
Optical waveguide devices have attracted a lot of research interest recently, not only because of their small device sizes, but also because of the possibility of achieving reconfigurable functionality as well as large scale integration. Among various optical waveguide devices that have been studied, the thermo-optic waveguide switch is one of the fundamental device structures that are essential for achieving reconfigurable functionality through their optical switching function. Conventional thermo-optic waveguide switches are usually based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure1 or the Y-branch structure.2 The former is usually made of the Silica materials and has the advantages of low power consumption and 2 × 2 operation. But it also has the disadvantages of larger device size, narrower operation bandwidth, and larger cross-talks. The latter is usually made of the polymer materials and has the advantages of medium device size, smaller cross-talks, and larger operation bandwidth, but it also has the disadvantages of larger power consumption. One can see that the advantages and disadvantages of these two conventional approaches are somehow complementary. It is thus desirable to invent a new device structure that can in some way have the advantages of both types.
© 2002 Optical Society of America
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