Electro-optical phase-change 2 × 2 switching using three- and four-waveguide directional couplers.

Theoretical modeling and numerical simulation have been performed at λ=2100  nm on silicon-on-insulator channel-waveguide directional couplers in which the outer two Si waveguides are passive and the central waveguide(s) are electro-optical (EO) "islands." The EO channel(s) utilize a 10 nm layer of Ge2Sb2Te5 phase-change-material sited at midlevel of a doped Si channel. A voltage-driven phase change produces a large change in the effective …