High carrier injection optical waveguide switch

Abstract

Based on the two-mode interference principle and the free-carrier plasma dispersion effect, a high carrier injection optical waveguide includes: a pair of optical waveguide elements, one functioning as an optical waveguide input and the other functioning as an optical waveguide output; a two-mode interference (TMI) region, made of semiconductor material, between the optical waveguide input and the optical waveguide output; first and second carrier injection regions; and a lateral carrier collection region, the lateral carrier collection region and the first carrier injection region being positioned on opposite sides of the TMI region with the second carrier injection region being positioned between the lateral carrier collection region and the first carrier injection region.