Monolithically integrated 4x4 SOA switch fabricated using quantum well intermixing

Monolithically-integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) have the potential for enabling high-speed and low-crosstalk optical switches in reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs). Using integrated 4x4 switches as the building blocks for large-scale ROADMs, instead of 2x2 switches, will reduce alignment issues and assembly steps during manufacturing. The switch is based on SOAs, quantum well intermixed (QWI) passive 1x4 MMI splitters/combiners, and total internal reflection mirrors. We present the results of the 4x4 switch design, for a switch of 5.3 mm x 3.5 mm in size, with estimated total excess on-chip losses of 23 dB.

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