| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To obtain an optical switch of a novel structure utilizing a polarization phenomenon in a cross type optical waveguide by making the refractive index in the crossing part of optical waveguides higher than the refractive index in the other part and branching light to the branch optical waveguide. CONSTITUTION:The width of the thin titanium film layer 2 on the surface of a substrate 1 is widest in the part where the crossing starts and is decreased gradually toward the center. Therefore, the density is highest in a part 4 and is highest in refractive index. The light 6 in an optical waveguide 5 is thus refracted by the part 4 and advances in a branch optical waveguide 71. Electrodes 8, 9 of the same shape as the shape of the part 4 or the shape resembling to the same are provided on the surface of the waveguide in the part 4 and the refractive index of the part 4 having a high refractive index is decreased by applying a DC voltage signal to these electrodes to allow the light 6 advancing in the waveguide 5 to advance straightly toward the main optical waveguide 51 whereby the optical switching action is accomplished. |
