NxM planar optical waveguide switch for computer communications

A new scheme for a NxM electrooptical switching network in a planar LiNb03 optical wave-guide for computer communications has been demonstrated and will be reported here. Experimental data and analysis will be presented to show its performance characteristics, such as the maximum number of communications channels, the "on/off" difference (i.e. signal-to-noise ratio) and the switching voltage, as affected by the inplane scattering noise in the waveguide, the lens performance, switching electrode design, and detectors.