On the improvement of the performance of the optically controlled microwave switch

In this paper, a new design for the gap used as an optically controlled microwave switch is proposed. This new design is based on the use of a rib structure in the gap region. The proposed structure is studied using the finite-difference method (PDM). Obtained results show that for small gaplengths, the structure figure of merit, defined as the product of the ON/OFF ratio and the bandwidth, can be improved by about 38 dB*GHz.