Fabrication of 10-Channel Polymer Thermo-Optic Digital Optical Switch Array

Abstract

We present a 10-channel polymer thermo-optic digital optical switch (DOS) array with very low optical crosstalk. The 10-channel DOS array has a crosstalk-improved structure in which radiation-type attenuators are integrated in a series with a conventional 1 x 2 DOS. It is fabricated using a quartz substrate on which grid patterns for dispersion of stray light are formed to reduce the optical crosstalk. The measured crosstalk values are as low as -45 dB at a low electrical power of 50 mW. Insertion losses of less than 1.35 dB are achieved for all channels.