A system for selectively adiabatically coupling electromagnetic waves from one waveguide to another waveguide is described. It comprises a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion having substantially different surface normal cross-sections. Portions thereof are positioned with respect to each other in a coupling region so that under first predetermined environmental conditions coupling of electromagnetic waves between the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion can occur and under second predetermined environmental conditions substantially no coupling of electromagnetic waves between the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion can occur. The system also comprises a fluid positioning means for selectively positioning at least a first fluid simultaneously overlaying both said first waveguide portion and said second waveguide portion in the coupling region thus selectively inducing first predetermined environmental conditions or second predetermined environmental conditions.

A high-capacity optical fiber switching system enables selective interconnection of individual input fibers to output fibers. A three-dimensional array of paired linear elements with selectable flexibility and length is arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns to form a transverse interchange plane. Each pair consists of a stationary lower element and a movable upper element, the latter holding a terminus of a distinct optical fiber. Couplers placed within this array facilitate signal conductor connections. A transport device with an axially movable gripper moves in horizontal spaces between columns to reposition the movable fiber terminals. Signal-controlled, orthogonal linear drives provide vertical and horizontal movements of the transport device, enabling placement within the fiber array.

The present disclosure is directed to design and fabrication of the dual layer optical switching cells that controllably distribute and reroute optical signals between bus optical waveguides of an optical switch network. A dual layer optical switching cell includes one or more mechanical optical switches fabricated above a waveguide layer that includes the bus optical waveguides. An optical switch includes a suspended shunt optical waveguide supported by a metallic structure and configured to couple light from one bus optical waveguide to another bus optical waveguide when is electro-mechanically actuated. Method of fabricating such optical switched include steps that enable fabrication of optical switching cells having silicon nitride or monocrystalline silicon optical waveguides, and a metallic clamping support structure.

An optical cross-connect includes: first to fourth optical switches connected to first to fourth optical fiber cores on four routes; and optical fibers that connect the optical switches between each other. Each of the optical switches includes a first ferrule which is a ferrule disposed to expose each of the optical fiber cores at end surfaces and at which each of the optical fiber cores on a route is disposed, a second ferrule which is the ferrule and at which each of the optical fiber cores that connect the optical switches between each other is disposed, and a sleeve that supports the first ferrule and the second ferrule inside such that the end surfaces of the first ferrule and the second ferrule face each other and the first ferrule and the second ferrule are rotatable relative to each other along an inner wall of the sleeve.