Waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch

Abstract

A waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch including: an optical waveguide having a pair of first and second cores close to each other for switching an optical path between the pair of first and second cores; a third core made of nematic liquid crystal enclosed in between a pair of oriented films and oriented in a predetermined direction by the pair of oriented films, the third core being disposed in any one of a space covering the first and second cores in parallel with a plane containing optical axes of the first and second cores, a space sandwiched between the first and second cores and a space covering upper surfaces of the first and second cores so as to be laid over the first and second cores; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the third core opposite to the first and second cores so as to cover a gap portion between the first and second cores; second and third electrodes disposed as a pair, between which electrodes the first electrode is put, the second and third electrodes provided for orienting liquid crystal molecules in a direction perpendicular to the direction of orientation of the oriented films; and a clad for collectively surrounding the first, second and third cores and the first, second and third electrodes.