Wave guide switch based on electric field control of wave reflection and transmission

A 1×2 optical switch structure, comprising:

• a. a first optical waveguide having an input end, a first output end, and a second output end;
• b. a second optical waveguide interconnected to said first optical waveguide and having an input end and an output end;
• c. a third optical waveguide interconnected to said first optical waveguide and having an input end and an output end;
• d. a first electro-optical material disposed between said first output end of said first optical waveguide and said input end of said second optical waveguide, and having a first refractive index that is selectively actuable between first and second states through application of a first electric field generated therein;
• e. a first voltage source for generating the first electric field;
• f. a second electro-optical material disposed between said second output of said first optical waveguide and said input end of said third optical waveguide, and having a second refractive index that is selectively actuable between first and second states through application of a second electric field generated therein;
• and
• g. a second voltage source for generating the second electric field.

An optical diffraction structure, comprising:

• a. an optical waveguide extending in an axial direction;
• b. an electro-optical material spatially distributed in successive periods along the axial length of said waveguide, and including a refractive index that is selectively actuable between first and second states through application of an electric field generated therein;
• and
• c. a voltage source for generating said electric field.

An optical diffraction structure, comprising:

• a. an optical waveguide having a width and longitudinally extending in an axial direction;
• b. an electro-optical geometrically distributed within said waveguide in a plane that is normal to said axial direction, wherein the geometric distribution has a periodic variation along the axial direction of the waveguide, wherein said electro-optical material includes a refractive index that is selectively actuable between first and second states through generation of an electric field therein and that is aligned in the width direction of the waveguide;
• and
• c. a voltage source for generating said electric field.

An optical interference structure, comprising:

• a. a first mirror electrode having a reflectance R and an absorptance A;
• b. a second mirror electrode having a reflectance R and an absorptance A;
• C. a voltage source for generating an electric field between said first and second mirror electrodes;
• and
• d. an electro-optical material positioned between said first mirror electrode and said second mirror electrode and having a predetermined thickness L and a refractive index that is selectively actuable between first and second states through generation of said electric field therein.