隨著通訊的進步,人們對頻寬的需求越來越大,因此光通訊越來越受到重視。由於頻寬的增加,訊號切換的能力變得越來越重要,傳統上會利用電子元件來做訊號的切換,但在如此大量的訊號下,此種作法漸漸不能負荷。未來的趨勢必定是希望訊號維持在光纖中進行傳播及交換,藉此增加訊號傳遞的速率。由此可以看出在未來光開關在光通訊方面必定是扮演著重要的角色。 本論文探討雷射照射法製造BCB光波導熱光開關的可行性。在實驗中,吾人成功的觀察到BCB光波導的熱光效應,包括直波導及2×2多模干涉元件。在直波導方面,探討施加功率與輸出功率的關係。在輸入功率為100mW可達12dB的輸出功率變化;而在2×2多模干涉元件則是探討其切換的特性。在輸入功率同為100mW時,可以看到輸出大小互換的現象。
Owing to recent advances in communications, the need of wider bandwidth is becoming more and more important. Therefore, much attention has been turned to optical communication. Traditionally, high-speed electronic components are used for the exchange of signals. However, they are not fast enough for signal transmission. Keeping signal transmission and exchange in the optical domain to increase the signal transmission rate must be the future trend. For this reason, optical switches potentially play important roles in optical communication. In this work, the thermo-optic switching is explored by using ultraviolet laser illuminated BCB optical waveguide devices. Experimental results show thermo-optic effects of channel waveguides and 2×2 multimode interference power splitters are successfully fabricated. For the channel waveguides, the output power is decreased by 12dB when the input power is 100mW. As for the 2×2 multimode interference devices, experimental results show, with an input power of 100mW, the switching of output powers can be successfully observed.