Ultrashort Photonic Crystal Optical Switch Actuated by a Microheater

Daryl M. Beggs, Thomas P. White, Lee Cairns, Liam O'Faolain, Thomas F. Krauss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We demonstrate a silicon photonic crystal (PhC) optical switch with a 20-mu s response time controlled by a thermo-optic microheater. The switch consists of a dispersion engineered PhC directional coupler that is only 4.9 mu m long. Optical and electrical isolation is provided by backfilling the holes and embedding the PhC in a silca cladding to produce a vertically symmetric structure that is more robust than a membrane geometry. No increase in optical loss is observed due to the silica. cladding, despite operating above the lightline; the insertion loss for airbridge and silica embedded structures are comparable at 1-2 dB.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)24-26
Number of pages3
JournalIEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Volume21
Issue number1-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

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