Abstract: An optical fiber switch comprising a fixed holder supporting a plurality of parallel fibers and a slide supporting a plurality of movable fibers having ends facing the ends of the fixedly mounted fibers. The slide is movable between first and second abutments in response to the activation of a magnetically activated armature. A first spring acts on the slide to displace it from the first abutment to the second abutment and a second stronger spring acts on the slide in opposition to the first spring. The armature carries an armature bracket which bears against the second spring to displace the second spring away from the slide when the armature is activated in order to diminish the action of the second spring so that the slide is displaced to the second abutment substantially only under the action of the first spring.

Abstract: A switch capable of switching an optical beam without employing conventional mechanical, electrical, or optical devices. The switch includes a switching medium which may be a solid, liquid, gas, or supercritical gas. A signal or switched beam is directed into and through the switching medium. In order to change the path of the signal beam as it travels through the switching medium, the refractive index of the switching medium is changed. This change in refractive index is caused by a control beam selectively directed into the switching medium. The control beam produces a transient refractive index gradient within the switching medium. This gradient may be a thermal gradient and may constitute a thermal lens. The switch of the current invention is capable of picosecond response times and may serve as a fiber optics communications switch as well as an element in an optical computer.