Abstract

Fast electro-optic semiconductor switches are indispensable components for future high bit-rate optical time division multiplexed (OTDM) systems (e.g., for demultiplexing). For fast devices on InP lumped electrodes which are RC limited were commonly used.¹ Alternatively, travelling wave electrodes for modulators and switches on LiNb0₃ and on GaAs were recently employed to achieve high-speed opera- tion.^2-4 However, such devices are not in- tegrable with InGaAsP/InP lasers and laser amplifiers. In this work we demonstrate for the first time an optical 2×2 space switch on InP using travelling wave electrodes, which are suitable for frequencies even beyond 20 GHz.

© 1994 Optical Society of America