Matrix Description of a novel 4x4 Polarization-independent Optical Switch

摘要

A novel optical implementation method of 4X4 polarization-independent bi-directional fiber optical switch in free-space optical architecture is presented in this paper. This 4x4 fiber optical switch is based on elementary 2X2 optical switch module. The 4X4 optical switch constituted by polarization beam splitters(PBS), 1/4 waveplates(QWP), polarization light modulator(PLM), right angle prism(RAP), and total reflection mirror(TR). Operation is independent by input signals of polarization of the optical beams. This new kind of configuration of the optical switch grants the features of less optical components, high compactness, low optical interchannel crosstalk, fast switching speed, polorization insensitivity, and easiness to optical assembly. A matrix description is deduced with respect to this 4X4 fiber optical switch architecture.