All-optical switch based on 1×3 multimode interference couplers

In this paper, a new all-optical switch based on 1×3 and 3×3 General Interference (GI) multimode interference (MMI) structures is proposed. By using nonlinear directional couplers in two arms of the structure as phase shifters, all-optical switching mechanism can be achieved. In this study, we use chalcogenide glass on silica for designing the device structure. The switching states of the device can be controlled by adjusting the optical control signals at the phase shifters. The transfer matrix method and beam propagation method (BPM) are used for designing and optimizing the device structure. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.