MULTIWAVELENGTH OPTICAL SWITCHING

原文（中文）

Described herein are optical switches that enable high-speed, low-loss, and low-crosstalk switching across multiple wavelengths within a CMOS-compatible platform. The optical switches described herein use resonant devices (e.g., microring resonators) controlled via carrier-induced phase modulation effects. To allow for multi-wavelength operation, the inventor proposes matching the free spectral range (FSR) of a resonant device to the spacing between adjacent WDM channels. By matching the FSR of a resonant device to the spacing between adjacent WDM channels, all the WDM channels can be switch simultaneously, thereby increasing the system's ability to perform parallel, high-speed switching. Resonant devices of the types described herein may be implemented in various ways. In one example, a device may be configured as a microring resonator, a closed-loop waveguide positioned adjacent to a bus waveguide, where light can couple into and out of the microring through evanescent coupling.