Thermal optical switch apparatus with enhanced thermal isolation includes
a cladding region with first and second spaced apart waveguide cores buried therein
to form first and second waveguides. A thermal insulation barrier filled with insulating
material is formed in the cladding between the first and second waveguides to thermally
isolate the waveguides. In one embodiment, the insulating material is an aerogel.
Methods of operation are also described.
