Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimode interference waveguide type optical switch that has a wide tolerance and that digitally performs switching with respect to a change in an applied voltage or injected current. The multimode interference waveguide type optical switch of the present invention includes an input single-mode waveguide (102) into which input light is entered, a multimode rectangular slab waveguide (103) into which light emitted from the input single-mode waveguide is entered, two electrodes (105a, 105b) that are arranged in parallel in a waveguide direction on the slab waveguide and that decrease the refractive index of the slab waveguide (103) disposed thereunder by injecting current or applying voltage, and a plurality of output single-mode waveguides (104a, 104b) into which light emitted from the slab waveguide (103) is entered and from which output light is emitted.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimode interference waveguide type optical switch that has a wide tolerance and that digitally performs switching with respect to a change in an applied voltage or injected current. The multimode interference waveguide type optical switch of the present invention includes an input single-mode waveguide (102) into which input light is entered, a multimode rectangular slab waveguide (103) into which light emitted from the input single-mode waveguide is entered, two electrodes (105a, 105b) that are arranged in parallel in a waveguide direction on the slab waveguide and that decrease the refractive index of the slab waveguide (103) disposed thereunder by injecting current or applying voltage, and a plurality of output single-mode waveguides (104a, 104b) into which light emitted from the slab waveguide (103) is entered and from which output light is emitted.