Digital optical switch based on amorphous silicon waveguide

Abstract

The performances of a digital optical switch, based on the thermo-optic effect in amorphous silicon, are investigated for the first time to our knowledge. Numerical simulations show that the strong thermo-optic effect of amorphous silicon, combined with the possibility of realizing micrometric integrated structures, allows the realization of efficient waveguide devices capable of microsecond switching times. The switch, operating at the infrared communications wavelength of 1550 nm, can be easily integrated in silicon optoelectronic circuits and is thought for low-cost photonic applications.

Positioning a focused Gaussian beam inside a refractive cylinder

“…This algorithm simulates the propagation of an electromagnetic field under scalar approach, through a refractive index map [27]. It was originally developed for the simulations of optical waveguides [28], but it results were specially indicated for the simulation of any volumetric structure [29]. We then obtain the field at any point of the propagation map.…”