High-speed signal switching in a PCB optical data bus

The study considers high-speed switching in an optical bus on a printed circuit board (PCB). We proposed to use cascades of Mach–Zehnder waveguide interferometers to build optical switches. The interferometers are made of electro-optical polymers with fluorine-containing chromophores in the side chain. The substance changes its refractive index when an electric field is applied. Such switches are fast: the switching frequency is up to 100 GHz. The authors also proposed an approach to the manufacturing of single-mode waveguides and Mach–Zehnder waveguide interferometers in electro-optical polymer using laser photo-clarification of chromophores. Visible light decreases the refractive index decrease of the polymer.