Guided wave optical switch based on an active semiconductor amplifier and a passive optical component

摘要

A guided wave optical switch having a passive optical component optically coupled to a low gain optical amplifier-both being formed monolithically in a semiconductor substrate. The passive optical component may comprise a single-mode -3 dB optical power splitter that receives at an input an optical signal and splits that optical signal approximately equally between two outputs. The passive optical component may also comprise an optical isolator, an optical circulator, and other known passive optical devices. The low gain optical amplifier includes a waveguide having an active region that may provide optical signal gain when excited by an electrical current provided by a metal or metallic electrode connected to the active region. The active region may be a bulk active region, a multiple quantum well active region, or the waveguide may comprise a buried heterojunction waveguide having either a bulk or multiple quantum well active region.