Pico-second optical switch using micromachined total internal reflection prism

J. Li, X. M. Zhang, A. Q. Liu*, M. Tang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A pico-second optical switch using micromachined total internal reflection (TIR) prism via phonon-assisted nonlinear two-photon absorption (TPA) is reported in this paper. The incident light is switched to various outputs by changing the refractive index at the interface of the prism using illumination and the prism is finely tuned by a rotational microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) thermal actuator. This switch has multifold advantages over the other techniques. Firstly, the pico-second switching speed is much faster than other mechanical switches. Secondly, the critical angle of TIR for switching is innovative. Thirdly, there is no mechanical instability issue to be addressed. Fourth, the switch is adaptive to silicon substrate variation due to the finely tuning by MEMS actuator. Lastly, the effective volume is small, avoiding the absorption problem of long propagation distance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTRANSDUCERS '05 - 13th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators and Microsystems - Digest of Technical Papers
Pages1179-1182
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes
Event13th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators and Microsystems, TRANSDUCERS '05 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Duration: Jun 5 2005Jun 9 2005

Publication series

NameDigest of Technical Papers - International Conference on Solid State Sensors and Actuators and Microsystems, TRANSDUCERS '05
Volume2

Other

Other13th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators and Microsystems, TRANSDUCERS '05
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period06/5/0506/9/05

Keywords

  • Micromachined prism
  • Optical switch
  • Total internal reflection
  • Two photon absorption

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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