Thermally modulated photonic switch and associated methods

A thermally modulated photonic switch, comprising:

• a topology-optimized structure that includes dispersed silicon and silicon dioxide, wherein the topology-optimized structure includes an input waveguide and N output waveguides;
• wherein the topology-optimized structure routes a light beam from the input waveguide to a particular one of the N output waveguides, when the topology-optimized structure is at a corresponding one of N distinct predetermined temperatures that causes a refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a corresponding one of N distinct predetermined values.

A method of thermally modulated photonic switching, the method comprising:

• inputting a light beam to an input waveguide of a topology-optimized structure that includes dispersed silicon and silicon dioxide, wherein the topology-optimized structure includes N output waveguides;
• and
• routing the light beam from the input waveguide to a particular one of the N output waveguides by adjusting a temperature of the topology-optimized structure to a corresponding one of N distinct predetermined temperatures that causes a refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a corresponding one of N distinct predetermined values.