Ultra fast, compact wavelength-selective 22 optical switches based on
polarization splitters and preferably electro-optical polarization converters,
and switch matrices based on such switches. The switches and switch matrices are
preferably implemented on electro-optical substrates using planar light-wave circuit
technology. Switch designs include switches comprised of two polarization splitters
and two polarization converters, and a switch comprised of one polarization splitter
and two polarization converters. In a preferred embodiment, a switch comprises
a TE-barring polarization splitter, a TM-barring polarization splitter, and two
electro-optical wavelength-selective polarization converters connected in parallel
between the TE- and TM-barring polarization splitters, and is implemented on an
electro-optical substrate such as InP, GaAs, LiNbO3 or LiTaO3 using
planar lightwave circuit technology. A preferred embodiment of a switch matrix
for connecting i optical inputs to i monitoring outputs and to j optical outputs
comprises a plurality of ij wavelength-selective 22 optical switches
arranged in i rows and j columns, each optical switch including a TE-barring polarization
splitter, a TM-barring polarization splitter, and two wavelength-selective polarization
converters connected in parallel between the TE- and TM-barring polarization splitters.
The switch matrix is also preferably implemented using planar lightwave circuit technology.
