Multi-Channel Photonic Switching System using Polarization Control Devices

本研究的目的是利用铁电液晶偏振控制器件(FLC-PCD)研制多通道光开关，并构建一种新型的光子开关系统。研究成果包括：1.提出了一种新的FLC-PCD设计理论，并通过实验进行了验证，利用Jones矢量对FLC-PCD的偏振控制特性进行了理论研究。研究了光以斜角穿过器件，斜入射光被全反射和AU镜电极反射回另一侧的情况。在此基础上提出了FLC-PCDS的设计理论，并通过实验验证了其可行性。发展了基于FLC-PCD的多通道光开关，提出了各种不同结构的基于FLC-PCD的偏振控制光开关。基本的2x2开关和4x4开关被成功地开发用于1.31μm和1.55μm的光通信波长。进行了光交换系统的基础实验，利用研制的2×2光开关进行了光交换系统的基础实验，确定了高速光数字信号的交换功能，从而证实了偏振控制多通道光交换系统的基本概念的可行性，下一步的研究将是利用增加输入和输出通道的光开关来演示更大规模的光交换系统。

The purpose of this research is to develop multichannel optical switches using ferro-electric liquid crystal polarization control devices (FLC-PCD) and to build a novel photonic switching system using them.The research results include ;1. A new design theory of FLC-PCD was developed and confirmed by the experimentPolarization control characteristics of the FLC-PCDs were theoretically studied by using Jones vectors. The study was done for cases that the light passes through the device with an oblique angle and the oblique incident light is reflected back at the other side by the total reflection and by a AU mirror electrode. The design theory of the FLC-PCDs was developed based on the study and its feasibility was confirmed by experimental FLC-PCDs.2. Multi-channel optical switches using FLC-PCDs were developedVarious configurations of the polarization controlled optical switches using FLC-PCDs were proposed. And basic 2x2 switch and 4x4 switches were successfully developed for optical communication wavelengths of 1.31μm and 1.55 μm.3. Fundamental experiment of photonic switching system was carried outFundamental experiment of photonic switching system has been carried out using the developed 2x2 optical switch and the switching function of high-speed optical digital signals has been confirmed.As a result, the feasibility of the basic concept of the polarization controlled multi-channel photonic switching system has been confirmed and the next stage of the research will be to demonstrate the larger scale switching system by using optical switches with increased number of input and output channels.