Experimental Proof-of-Concept of a Spatial Photonic Switch Based on an Off-Axis Zone Plate in Millimeter Wavelength Range

Abstract

Optical switches are key elements in modern network communications. We present the results of the experimental verification of a new theoretical concept proposed earlier for a full-optical wavelength-selective dual-channel switch based on the photonic hook effect, which is free from using any micro-mechanical devices or nonlinear materials. A large-scale laboratory prototype of such a device based on an off-axis Wood zone plate is considered, and its main parameters in the millimeter wavelength range are investigated. On the basis of the experiments, we show that the optical isolation of switched channels for a switch based on an off-axis zone plate can achieve 15 dB at a frequency difference of 25 GHz in a frequency range of 93 to 136 GHz. Given the scaling, these results can be transferred to another range, including the optical one.