Scalable integrated optical switch matrix using ultra-compact thermally tunable dual micro-disk resonators

Optical switch matrices are critical components in data centers, telecommunications, and advanced computing systems, facilitating dynamic and flexible routing of optical signals to support the increasing demands of data transmission. As data traffic escalates exponentially, scalability of these matrices becomes paramount. However, the constrained physical space necessitates high integration density, which poses significant challenges related to switching element size and thermal crosstalk, particularly in thermally driven optical switch matrices. In this paper, we propose a scalable optical switch matrix employing ultra-compact thermally tunable micro-disk resonators (MDRs). At each waveguide crossing, dual MDRs are strategically placed to support multiple direction routings, thereby enabling rearrangeable non-blocking connectivity and increasing input/output (I/O) port density. To mitigate thermal crosstalk between adjacent MDRs, specifically engineered routing waveguides are integrated into the matrix. A proof-of-concept silicon photonic 1 × 8 × 2λ switch chip is fabricated and evaluated. With the use of the chip, an optical data transmission is experimentally demonstrated. The proposed switch matrix exhibits strong scalability and significantly reduced thermal crosstalk, showcasing its potential for future optical interconnection networks.