A wide-angle X-junction polymeric thermooptic digital switch with low crosstalk

We present our recent design of a wide-angle asymmetric X-junction for the implementation of a digital-optical switch. The simulated crosstalk in the OFF and ON states are -28 and -26 dB, respectively, at an X-branching angle of 1/spl deg/. Polymeric material benzocyclobutene was used to fabricate our design and its switching property was demonstrated using the thermooptic effect. The measured crosstalk is approximately -24 dB in both states with rise-time and fall-time 140 and 210 μs, respectively.