Implementation of a 1×16 router using 2×2 Mach-Zehnder interferometer electro-optic Switch

In optical communication signal router is a novel photonic component used to ensure communication between optical networks. Signal routing has a significant commercial demand in dense wavelength division multiplexing. This paper presents the description of designing a 1 × 16 signal router using Mach-Zehnder electro-optic Switch operating at 1.55 μm. To design the router we used 2×2 Mach-Zehnder electro-optic switch made by titanium diffused lithium niobate (Ti:LiNbO₃) which is used as waveguide medium in designing the desired signal router. Enhanced performance of the switch with reduced insertion loss, excess loss and high extinction ratio was evaluated first and then the router was implemented using that optimized switch. 16 switches were required to implement the router. Optical power can be switched to each of the 16 output ports with the application of applied voltage at each central electrode of the 16 MZI switches. The results are observed using finite difference beam propagation method of OptiBPM12.2 simulation software.