Novel 2D Optical Superlattice for Optical Interconnection Devices

"Optical computation requires very specific optical interconnection schemes such as the in-plane sharp bends and the fast channel switching functions. The integration requirement with existing waveguide technologies further put many limitations on using thecurrent technologies to develop such a device with acceptable performances. This project proposes a new concept of using a new bistable mechanism to fabricate such a interconnection device that will provide lossless sharp bending waveguide connections andfast switching functions of nanoseconds. This device will be are very important for many optical computation and fiber optic communication applications. Successes in this Phase I effort related to the identification of this new bistable mechanism and thenovel device will identify the promise of this developed process for further highly integrated interconnect device development. The military and civilian applications are diverse, including optical computation and fiber optical communication technology."