High carrier injection optical waveguide switch

A high carrier injection optical waveguide switch, comprising:

• a pair of Y-branch optical waveguides, each made of layers of semiconductor material;
• a two-mode interference (TMI) region made of layers of semiconductor material, said TMI region functioning as a refractive index modulation region;
• first and second carrier injection regions;
• and
• a lateral carrier collection region, said lateral carrier collection region and said first carrier injection region being positioned on opposite sides of said TMI region with said second carrier injection region being positioned between said lateral carrier collection region and said first carrier injection region.

A high carrier injection optical waveguide switch, comprising:

• a pair of Y-branch optical waveguides, one of said Y-branch optical waveguides being an input and the other being an output and each including a pair of Y-connected single-mode rib optical waveguides;
• a two-mode interference (TMI) region which functions as a refractive index modulation region, said TMI region being a two-mode rib optical waveguide;
• and
• two carrier injection regions for injecting current into said TMI region to effect switching.