| 摘要 |
<p>An optical switch comprising a substrate with a refractive index n1 which is transparent with respect to a guided light beam, an optical waveguide film with a refractive index n2 which is formed on the substrate, a lowrefractive-index region with a refractive index n2' which is smaller by a predetermined value than the refractive index n2 formed at a predetermined location in the optical waveguide film, a movable dielectric chip with a refractive index n4 which is transparent with respect to the guided light beam and a relative distance of which is adjustable relative to a plane including the low-refractive-index region and a vicinal area of the optical waveguide film in the vicinity of the region, and an intermediate layer with a refractive index n3 disposed between the plane and the movable dielectric chip wherein the refractive indices n1, n2, n2', n3 and n4 have a relationship of n2 > n2' > n4 > (n1, n3), and effective refractive indices of the optical waveguide film and the low-refractive-index region are varied by changing a distance between the plane and the movable dielectric chip, so that guided light beam incident to the region is deflected. With such an arrangement, a deflection angle of 20.degree. or more is obtained, so that the optical switch is suitable for the integration of the optical switch.</p> |
