| abstract |
An optically controlled integrated optical switch having a body made up of entirely crystalline silicon. More specifically, the body has a pair of channel waveguides intersecting at an X-like configuration forming therein an intersection crossover region. An electrically controlled optical source is positioned over the crossover region to shine intense, short wavelight on the crossover region in order to generate numerous electron-hole pairs in the waveguide material. These charge carriers alter the refractive index of the intersection region. A controllable current source is used to adjust the optical output power of the optical source. This, in turn, changes the amount of optical cross coupling of light between the intersecting waveguides. |