Three-dimensional polymer thermo-optic switch at 650 nm.

Dynamic optical power distribution has great importance to network optimization. A three-dimensional (3-D) polymer thermo-optic switch is designed and fabricated to work at 650 nm. Two rectangular poly(methyl-methacrylate-glycidly-methacrylate) waveguides in neighboring and parallel layers couple with each other in a vertical direction. The lightwave is routed in two layers through a metal heater control. Waveguide configuration and relative position are optimized theoretically through beam propagation method calculations. The fabricated switch demonstrates an extinction ratio of 27.5 dB at a driving power of 57.7 mW. Measured rise time and fall time are 639.8 and 758.2 μs, respectively. Reliability characterizations within 125 days prove good operation stability at different extinction ratios. This work has potential in 3-D optical connections and visible light communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]