Low crosstalk and low driving power x-intersecting type 2 /spl times/ 2 optical waveguide switches

Summary form only given. We have proposed an X-intersection type optical waveguide switch structure, which has the very wide and thin waveguide core to realize the low crosstalk and the high extinction ratio. The switch also has the two clad layers beneath the core to suppress the scattering at the intersection; the second clad locating under the first clad has lower refractive index than first one. The switch fabricated in fluorinated polyimide showed the crosstalk of less than -40 dB. The extinction ratio was greater than 30 dB with applying the electrical power of 100 mW. The X-type switch can compose the N /spl times/ N matrix switches with a smaller component size and a lower driving power than those of the Y-type switches because the X-type switch requires less numbers of switch elements.