An all-optical ultracompact microring-resonator-based optical switch

A two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal with a square lattice structure is studied for the title device. The proposed device is designed with a simple structure using a circular ring resonator between two linear waveguides. Its optical switching action is based on the principle of the shift in the resonant wavelength with the refractive index for the whole structure. The refractive index of the material can be controlled externally by varying the temperature. This thermal effect can thus be used to achieve optical switching using the proposed design, which operates at two wavelengths (1554 nm and 1568 nm). Quality factors of 117 and 166 are obtained at the wavelengths of 1554 nm and 1568 nm, while the footprint of the proposed device is 152.13 mu m(2).