Ultra-low crosstalk, compact integrated optical crosspoint space switch arrays employing active InGaAsP-InP vertical waveguide couplers

An optical crosspoint switch array based on vertical waveguide couplers are experimentally demonstrated to have very low on-chip crosstalk level of <-60 dB and a ON-OFF contrast of >50 dB. The structure is also compact (250/spl times/250 /spl mu/m per input/output pair) and easily scalable.