Mirror-type optical branch and switch.

An optical branch and switch based on a unique mirror effect were fabricated by varying the amount of Ti diffused in a LiNbO(3) waveguide, and their properties were investigated. In this type of optical branch, the branching ratio of the light intensity could be varied by the electric field as well as by the separating angle and the effective indices of the waveguides. The main features of this optical switch are (1) small and simple electrode form and (2) a separating angle large enough to accommodate a number of switches on a single substrate. The ratio of the optical branch light intensity to that of the main waveguide was varied from 0.10 to 12.4 by applying the electric field from 0 V/microm to 8 V/microm.