Light switching via thermo-optic effect of micromachined silicon prism

J. Li; A. Q. Liu; X. M. Zhang; T. Zhong

doi:10.1063/1.2212278

Light switching via thermo-optic effect of micromachined silicon prism

J. Li, A. Q. Liu^*, X. M. Zhang, T. Zhong

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This letter presents an optical switch using total internal reflection (TIR) via thermo-optic effect (TOE). The switching function is obtained by changing the refractive index of silicon prism via TOE to switch the light across the TIR state. The structure is fabricated by microelectromechanical systems technology. The switch measures a cross talk of >30 dB and an extinction ratio of >40 dB but exhibits high insertion losses of 31.67 and 18.95 dB in the TIR and transmission states, respectively. Compared with conventional micromechanical and light-tuned switches, this switch is unique in mechanism and free of mechanical instability.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	243501
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	88
Issue number	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2212278
State	Published - Jun 12 2006
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.2212278

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title = "Light switching via thermo-optic effect of micromachined silicon prism",

abstract = "This letter presents an optical switch using total internal reflection (TIR) via thermo-optic effect (TOE). The switching function is obtained by changing the refractive index of silicon prism via TOE to switch the light across the TIR state. The structure is fabricated by microelectromechanical systems technology. The switch measures a cross talk of >30 dB and an extinction ratio of >40 dB but exhibits high insertion losses of 31.67 and 18.95 dB in the TIR and transmission states, respectively. Compared with conventional micromechanical and light-tuned switches, this switch is unique in mechanism and free of mechanical instability.",

author = "J. Li and Liu, {A. Q.} and Zhang, {X. M.} and T. Zhong",

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T1 - Light switching via thermo-optic effect of micromachined silicon prism

AU - Li, J.

AU - Liu, A. Q.

AU - Zhang, X. M.

AU - Zhong, T.

PY - 2006/6/12

Y1 - 2006/6/12

N2 - This letter presents an optical switch using total internal reflection (TIR) via thermo-optic effect (TOE). The switching function is obtained by changing the refractive index of silicon prism via TOE to switch the light across the TIR state. The structure is fabricated by microelectromechanical systems technology. The switch measures a cross talk of >30 dB and an extinction ratio of >40 dB but exhibits high insertion losses of 31.67 and 18.95 dB in the TIR and transmission states, respectively. Compared with conventional micromechanical and light-tuned switches, this switch is unique in mechanism and free of mechanical instability.

AB - This letter presents an optical switch using total internal reflection (TIR) via thermo-optic effect (TOE). The switching function is obtained by changing the refractive index of silicon prism via TOE to switch the light across the TIR state. The structure is fabricated by microelectromechanical systems technology. The switch measures a cross talk of >30 dB and an extinction ratio of >40 dB but exhibits high insertion losses of 31.67 and 18.95 dB in the TIR and transmission states, respectively. Compared with conventional micromechanical and light-tuned switches, this switch is unique in mechanism and free of mechanical instability.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33745194802&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1063/1.2212278

DO - 10.1063/1.2212278

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33745194802

SN - 0003-6951

VL - 88

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

IS - 24

M1 - 243501

ER -

Light switching via thermo-optic effect of micromachined silicon prism

Abstract

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