Polarisation-insensitive digital optical switch using an electro-optic polymer rib waveguide

Abstract

An electro-optic polymer digital optical switch with rib waveguides is fabricated by using the reactive ion etching method. Polarisation-independent and wavelength-insensitive operation is demonstrated al wavelengths of 1.3 and 1.55 mu m, for the first time in electro-optic polymer devices. The rib waveguides have been designed to achieve good guiding properties for both TE and TM polarisations, by controlling the etching depth as well as its aspect ratio. The measured crosstalk is better than -16dB and the extinction ratio of each output port is > 16dB.