| New information technologies demand flexible optical networks. Optical space switches offer efficient transmission capacity useful for those applications. High band-width and low drive voltage modulation are advantages of the optical space switches. The objective of this research is to optimize the doping profile in the waveguide to maximize the electro-optic effect while at the same time minimizing the optical losses. Double heterostructure semiconductor waveguides was used for optical switch devices. The best combination of the extinction ratio, power efficiency and overall switch dimensions was found in an optical switch with the 1018cm-3-doped Al0.06Ga0.94As-upper-cladding, 1015cm-3 - doped GaAs - core and 1018cm-3 - doped Al 0.06Ga0.94As-lower-cladding. Devices with claddings made of aluminum gallium arsenide with higher aluminum contents were found to lack the extinction ratios needed for telecommunication switching applications. |
