Guided-wave optical switching

Technologies available for guided-wave optical switching, architectures using these technologies, and applications of the architectures are reviewed. The review encompasses the following topics: mechanical switches; directional couplers in titanium-indiffused lithium niobate; semiconductor guided-wave switches; spatial light modulators. Specific considerations for guided-wave optical switches are covered for space-division switching and time-division switching, and a short discussion is included about switching using other orthogonal parameters. The major applications seen for guided-wave optical switches are as space switches connecting high-bandwidth users that are within 10 km of each other. Since the entire network is within one lightwave regenerator span, optical-to-electrical conversions can be avoided. A space switch of this kind could support many different simultaneous data rates traversing its fabric as well as several different wavelengths.<
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