摘要 |
An optical switch includes a core and a fluid reservoir. The core includes a base, a matrix controller substrate, and a planar lightwave circuit. The planar lightwave circuit has a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of trenches. Each trench is located at an intersection of two waveguides. The fluid reservoir supplies a fluid to the plurality of trenches of the core. The optical switch further includes a getter for removing atmospheric gases from the fluid. The getter may be a porous silica getter, a non-evaporable getter, or an evaporable getter. By removing atmospheric gases from the fluid, the getter improves the capacity and operation of the optical switch. The optical switch may further include a membrane to separate the getter in a getter chamber from the fluid in a fluid chamber.
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