Optical switch and method of using the same

An optical switch for switching signal light by allowing the signal light to obliquely enter a non-linear optical thin film containing nano-crystal of a metal oxide from a light path disposed in an optical material, and irradiating visible excitation light to the non-linear optical thin film to induce a total reflection phenomenon, thereby controlling the reflection and transmission behavior of the signal light, wherein

• the non-linear optical thin film is formed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient in a positive value, and the optical material in contact with the non-linear optical thin film is formed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient in a negative value.

An optical switch for switching by allowing signal light to obliquely enter from a light path disposed in an optical material into a non-linear optical thin film, and irradiating visible excitation light to the non-linear optical thin film to induce a total reflection phenomenon, thereby controlling the reflection and transmission behavior of the signal light, wherein

• the non-linear optical thin film is formed of a multilayer which is comprised of a film having a temperature coefficient factor of a positive optical index and a film having a temperature coefficient factor of a negative optical index.

An optical switch for switching by allowing signal light to obliquely enter from a light path disposed in an optical material into a non-linear optical thin film, and irradiating visible excitation light to the non-linear optical thin film to induce a total reflection phenomenon, thereby controlling the reflection and transmission behavior of the signal light, wherein

• the non-linear optical thin film is formed of a composite material of metal oxide particles and an organic material having a temperature coefficient factor of a negative optical index.

An optical switch for switching signal light by allowing the signal light to obliquely enter from a light path disposed in an optical material into a non-linear optical thin film, and irradiating visible excitation light to the non-linear optical thin film to induce a total reflection phenomenon, thereby controlling the reflection and transmission behavior of the signal light, wherein

• a temperature of the non-linear optical thin film is kept at a temperature of a maximum frequency excitation light emitting condition.

A method of using an optical switch, comprising:

• disposing plural sets of optical switches for switching signal light by allowing the signal light to obliquely enter from a light path disposed in an optical material into a non-linear optical thin film, and irradiating visible excitation light to the non-linear optical thin film to induce a total reflection phenomenon, thereby controlling the reflection and transmission behavior of the signal light;
• and
• alternately using intermittently the plural sets of optical switches by means of a lower-speed optical switch than the plural sets of optical switches.