The invention provides an optical switch that consumes a less power, excels in
a high-speed response, and possesses a structure suitable for a miniaturization
and multi-channel switching. The optical switch switches a plurality of input signals
to a plurality of output positions, in which a laminated structure that has a nonlinear
optical layer and a buffer layer laminated in the same number as that of input
parts intersects an optical path between the input parts and output parts. By providing
the laminated structure using the nonlinear optical thin films, the invention achieves
a small matrix optical switch excellent in a high-speed response and suitable for
switching a large-capacity of information.
