Switches and tunable filters based on ring resonators and liquid crystals

In this paper, different optical configurations, simple and compound, based on ring resonators and using liquid crystals as the tuning or controlling block, are reported. Specific attention is given to their application as tunable filters and wavelength switches, in this last case as part of complex matrix fabrics for all optical switching. Simulations of integrated optics ring resonators are developed using FullWave by R-Soft. In the compound configurations that use serial micro ring resonators it is implemented a 3 port reconfigurable demultiplexer in a compact cross-grid configuration. Theoretical 10 nm tuning is reported on SOI substrate with nematic liquid crystals. Optimization of the critical coupling condition by changing the evanescent coupling length is also reported. Theoretical analysis is presented to identify and emphasize the design parameters of each configuration as regards its application of interest. The reported structures can be developed in integrated optic technologies; all designs corresponds to state of the art integrated optics technology. A revision of photonics circuits with equivalent components already developed is reported.

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