OPTICAL ROUTING/SWITCHING BASED ON CONTROL OF WAVEGUIDE-RING RESONATOR COUPLING

摘要

An optical wave power control device and method enables signal control, such as modulation and switching, to be effected with the application of very low power to a controller which is in optical communication with a recirculating mode resonator (200) and an optical propagation element. The propagation element is in power communication with a high-Q volumetric resonator. Power of a chosen resonant wavelength is coupled into the resonator, where it circulates with very low loss and returns to the propagation element. By applying a control signal into the controller, the propagated power can be varied between substantially full and substantially zero amplitudes. Loss factors can be maintained such that the resonator is overcoupled (i.e. parasitic losses are less than coupling losses). A critical coupling condition can be induced by a small swing in the controller, causing a disproportionate change in the output optical signal. The controller is preferably embodied in an interferometer (116) in the optical path of the resonator, and the control signal can be an applied voltage, current, or optical signal.