Large Scale Photonic Switching Using Laser Writable Polymer Waveguide Along with Reconfigurable Gratings

Photonic approaches are attractive for next generation computing and communication systems. In particular, photonic switch matrix is useful for reconfigurable optical interconnection of several high-speed computing systems for missile defense applications. Existing switching device architectures requiring N2 cascaded matrix switching elements for N x N non-blocking switching limits the scalability of switch matrix. The large number of switching nodes involved makes the switch matrix suffer from significant crosstalk due to imperfect analog switching. New Span Opto-Technology Inc. and University of Miami propose herein a novel photonic switch matrix using all optical control for switch pattern reconfiguration. It is based on a new laser writable polymer waveguide and recording of instant gratings on such fast response waveguide. By minimizing the switching nodes and incorporating binary switching the novel device should minimize the switch crosstalk, improve device throughput, and offer the simultaneous advantages of large-scale matrix forming capability and fast switch pattern reconfiguration. It further minimizes switch system sensitivity to EMI due to all-optical binary switching. The feasibility of the proposed switch matrix concept has been demonstrated in Phase I. This Phase II study will optimize the device and realize a large-scale photonic switch matrix for communication and computing applications.