Thermo-optic switches using sol-gel processed hybrid materials

Kada R. Kribich; Henry Barry; Robert Copperwhite; Boleslaw Kolodziejczyk; Kieran O'Dwyer; Jean-Marc Sabattie; Brian D. MacCraith

doi:10.1117/12.546103

18 August 2004 Thermo-optic switches using sol-gel processed hybrid materials

Kada R. Kribich, Henry Barry, Robert Copperwhite, Boleslaw Kolodziejczyk, Kieran O'Dwyer, Jean-Marc Sabattie, Brian D. MacCraith

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5451, Integrated Optics and Photonic Integrated Circuits; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.546103
Event: Photonics Europe, 2004, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

There is a clear need for low cost, high performance and large-scale production of photonic chips. Network development requires more interconnecting components. A flexible and low-cost process using good quality material is necessary. The sol-gel process is a chemical method to fabricate glasses at ambient pressure and moderate temperature. The resulting material properties can be tuned depending on the precursors used. Hybrid materials, mixing organic and inorganic parts, offer the advantages of polymer-like materials and glasses. We have developed sol-gel-processed integrated optical circuits using hybrid materials. We report on the development of active devices based on the thermo-optic effect. Thermo-optic coefficients as high as -2.10^-4/°K have been measured in our materials. This enables the design of compact devices with low power consumption. Our goal is to utilise the thermo-optic effect in the development of integrated optical switches. The kHz response time of such switches makes them unsuitable for modulation applications, but they can be used for network protection, reconfiguration purposes in routing and multiplexing applications such as Code Division Multiplexing. New designs, based on multimode interference couplers (MMIC), have also been created. In this work we first describe the synthesis of the hybrid materials as well as the fabrication processes. Using the measured properties of the materials developed, we can simulate the optical and thermal properties of the target devices. The simulation results have been exploited to model and optimise a range of switch designs, including MMI-based 1xN switches. Finally, we report on the full characterisation of the different structures and devices created in terms of fabrication quality and optical and thermal response.

Citation Download Citation

Kada R. Kribich, Henry Barry, Robert Copperwhite, Boleslaw Kolodziejczyk, Kieran O'Dwyer, Jean-Marc Sabattie, and Brian D. MacCraith "Thermo-optic switches using sol-gel processed hybrid materials", Proc. SPIE 5451, Integrated Optics and Photonic Integrated Circuits, (18 August 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.546103

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available