Waveguide-based, Visible to Near IR Electro-optic Switches

The overall goal of this multi-phase SBIR program is to develop integrated optical switches for use at visible and near IR wavelengths using directional couplers in visible wavelength, high power handling, MgO doped lithium niobate waveguides. These waveguides, manufactured by AdvR, have been demonstrated as channel phase modulators and proof-of-concept amplitude modulators across the visible spectrum. The key innovation of this program is expanding AdvR’s existing directional coupler technology towards MgO lithium niobate to enable high extinction switchyards able to operate at electro-optic speeds (>10 GHz). The anticipated end results of this program is a commercially available device for high speed switching operating at visible wavelengths important for atomic and ionic systems.