High crosstalk InP Digital Optical Switch for microwave applications

摘要

Because electro-optic switches are key elements for the synthesis of large bandwidth, high dynamic, true time delay optically controlled microwave antennas, we designed, fabricated and characterized a new digital optical switch grown on InP substrate, and based on carrier-induced effects. The switching time is short (3ns) and there is no added noise on the optical signal. By introducing this switch in a microwave optical link at 1GHz frequency, we demonstrate that a 72dB microwave crosstalk (more than 36dB on the optical signal) can be achieved. The low current consumption of 60mA makes our device suitable for the optical control of microwave antennas.