Thermally induced pressure pulse operated bi-stable optical switch

摘要

A thermal optical switching cell for controlling the transmission of light through optical channels (21, 22, 23, 24) that includes a switching conduit (60) containing a working fluid (41) that is index of refraction matched to the optical channels and an amount of light diverting material (42) that is substantially immiscible in the working fluid and is not index of refraction matched to the optical channels. Micro heaters (31, 32) generate pressure pulses in the working fluid for moving the light diverting material between switch states.