1×16 photonic switch operating at 1.55 μm wavelength based on optical amplifiers and a passive optical splitter

An InP based 1×16 optical switch is demonstrated. The sixteen output ports are spaced 250 μm apart, and the total device length is 5.9 mm. Optical amplifiers are used to gate the optical signals and to provide optical gain. The total loss of the device, excluding coupling, is less than 2.5 dB and loss free operation was observed at low input powers. The output extinction ratios are lower than 18 dB and the uniformity spread of the sixteen channels is as low as 6.7 dB.