Chirp-improvement of optical intersecting-waveguide switch/modulators by electrode curvature

Introduction of slight exponential curvature into the electrode shape of optical intersecting-waveguide switch/modulators is proposed as the means of improving their frequency-chirping behavior. The improvement is achieved by adjusting the electrode curvature to make it pose a constant angle of incidence to all plane-wave spatial components of the guided mode. This results in reduction of the phase disturbances associated with the total reflection process and the frequency-chirping is, consequently, lowered.