COMPACT OPTICAL-OPTICAL SWITCHES AND WAVELENGTH CONVERTERS BY MEANS OF MULTIMODE INTERFERENCE MODE CONVERTERS

摘要

New compact optical-optical switches and/or wavelength converters that can be produced with good tolerances have all or some of the following properties: small size, good on/off switching behaviour, cascade and bidirectional operation, independence from polarisation, very fast switching. Components are developed that use modes of various orders to mix or separate information signals and control signals. The disclosed compact converter-combiner-MMIs can convert a first base mode into modes of the first order, superimpose images of a second base mode on modes of the first order, and distribute the available modes. It can also convert generated modes of a higher order back to their initial modes. Since the control signal changes not only the phase but also the intensity of the input signal, measures must be taken to achieve good on/off switching behaviour at the outputs. This problem is solved by using appropriate mode couplers with variable partial behaviours. Also disclosed is an alternative process for optical-optical switches and wavelength converters that does not use the disclosed optical mode converters but has all or some of the above-described properties.