Light Combining for Interferometric Switching

Abstract

Interferometric switching as a routing method in sequence of coupled optical microresonators is explored. Mach-Zhender interferometry is extended to systems of side-coupled integrated sequences of resonators (SCISSORs) and coupled resonators optical waveguides (CROWs). We generalized Coupled Mode Theory (CMT) to a system of three coupled waveguides. The two bus interferometric switching functions of SCISSOR and CROW resonant structures are investigated. A novel switching device based on three input phase modulation ports is presented. This device displays a wide range of switching behaviors which might lead to new interesting applications.