Ultra-compact electro-optical switches based on long-range air-hole assisted subwavelength waveguides

An ultra-compact electro-optical (EO) switch based on long-range air-hole assisted subwavelength waveguides with a high extinction ratio, low insertion loss, and high operation speed is proposed and investigated, both analytically and numerically. The switching characteristic of the EO switch also is addressed at three different resonant wavelengths. A modulation depth of 26.8 dB and a small active region of 1.04 mu m(2) at the wavelength of 1.597 mu m can be achieved. Such an active TE-mode device based on subwavelength waveguides provides a promising approach for highly effective EO switches, and is beneficial for high-density photonic integration. (C) 2015 Optical Society of America