Optical Switches

Optical Switches

by S Chua, B Li
Released October 2010
Publisher(s): Woodhead Publishing
ISBN: 9780857090416

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Book description

Optical communication using optical fibres as the transmission medium is essential to handling the massive growth of both telecom and datacom traffic. To fully realize the potential bandwidth available on these optical fibres, other components of the optical network system have to be developed, ranging from detectors and multiplexers to buffers and switches. This book addresses the different technologies which can be applied to switching optical signals.

An optical switch functions by selectively switching an optical signal delivered through an optical fibre or in an integrated optical circuit to another. Several methods are available and each relies on a different physical mechanism for its operation. The various physical mechanisms used are discussed in the main chapters in the book which cover electro-optical, thermo-optical, micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS)-based and semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based optical switches. The book also covers switching based on optical nonlinear effects, liquid and photonic crystal optical switches as well as fibre, holographic, quantum optical and other types of optical switches. Each chapter discusses the choice of materials, fabrication techniques and key issues in switch design.

With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Optical switches: materials and design is a standard reference for the telecommunications industry and those researching this important topic.

  • Reviews this commercially significant area of research and addresses the different technologies which can be applied to switching optical signals
  • Provides a balanced look at the developments which can be defined as key trends in optical switches
  • Major optical switches including electro-optical, thermo optical and magneto-optical switches are discussed and the respective theory and principles of each explored

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Contributor contact details
  6. Chapter 1: Introduction to optical switches
    1. Abstract:
  7. Chapter 2: Electro-optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 2.1 Introduction
    3. 2.2 Theory and principles of electro-optical switches
    4. 2.3 Materials and fabrication of electro-optical switches
    5. 2.4 Device structures of electro-optical switches
    6. 2.5 Performance and challenges
  8. Chapter 3: Thermo-optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 3.1 Introduction
    3. 3.2 Theory and principles of thermo-optic effect
    4. 3.3 Materials for thermo-optical switches
    5. 3.4 Device structures of thermo-optical switches
    6. 3.5 Conclusions
    7. 3.6 List of abbreviations
    8. 3.7 List of symbols
  9. Chapter 4: Magneto-optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 4.1 Introduction
    3. 4.2 History of optical communication
    4. 4.3 All-optical switches
    5. 4.4 Magneto-optical switches
    6. 4.5 Theory and principles of magneto-optical switches
    7. 4.6 Material
    8. 4.7 Characterization of Faraday rotation
    9. 4.8 Summary
    10. 4.9 Appendices
  10. Chapter 5: MEMS-based optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 5.1 Introduction
    3. 5.2 Optical systems
    4. 5.3 Optical switch architectures
    5. 5.4 Actuating principles of MEMS-based optical switches
    6. 5.5 Materials and fabrication of MEMS-based optical switches
    7. 5.6 Challenges surrounding MEMS-based optical switches
    8. 5.7 Conclusions
    9. 5.8 List of abbreviations
  11. Chapter 6: SOA-based optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 6.1 Introduction
    3. 6.2 SOA-based switching strategy
    4. 6.3 SOA structure
    5. 6.4 SOA design criteria
    6. 6.5 Summary
  12. Chapter 7: Switching based on optical nonlinear effects
    1. Abstract:
    2. 7.1 Introduction
    3. 7.2 Nonlinear effects for optical switches
    4. 7.3 Nonlinear devices for optical switches
    5. 7.4 Structure of nonlinear-effect-based optical switches
    6. 7.5 The ‘ideal’ nonlinear-effect-based optical switch?
  13. Chapter 8: Liquid crystal optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 8.1 Introduction
    3. 8.2 Liquid crystal theory and principles
    4. 8.3 Liquid crystal switches and applications
    5. 8.4 Future trends
    6. 8.5 Acknowledgments
  14. Chapter 9: Photonic crystal all-optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 9.1 Introduction
    3. 9.2 Theory and principles of photonic crystal all-optical switches
    4. 9.3 Design and fabrication of advanced 2DPC waveguide for PC-SMZ
    5. 9.4 Growth and characterization of optical QDs for PC-FF
    6. 9.5 Device structures and performances of photonic crystal all-optical switches
    7. 9.6 Conclusion
    8. 9.7 Acknowledgments
  15. Chapter 10: Fiber, holographic, quantum optical and other types of optical switches
    1. Abstract:
    2. 10.1 Introduction
    3. 10.2 Fiber switches
    4. 10.3 Holographic switches
    5. 10.4 Quantum optical switches
    6. 10.5 Other switches
  16. Chapter 11: Summary: key trends in optical switches
  17. Index

Product information

  • Title: Optical Switches
  • Author(s): S Chua, B Li
  • Release date: October 2010
  • Publisher(s): Woodhead Publishing
  • ISBN: 9780857090416