Optical waveguide switch (3 × 3) for an optical switching system

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Abstract
A new optical switch element is proposed for a switching system which exchanges optical signals in optical transmission lines without optoelectric conversion. It consists of three parallel equidistant straight single-mode waveguides fabricated of an electrooptic material with electrodes deposited on them. The element, whose interaction length is π/(2)1/2k (k is the coupling coefficient of neighboring guides), serves as a 3 × 3 optical switch by control of the differences in propagation constants between those waveguides. Control conditions to realize all the six connecting states of a 3 × 3 switch are discussed with the solution of the coupling equation for those guides.