# Broadband optical switch based on an achromatic photonic gauge potential in dynamically modulated waveguides

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a broadband optical switch leveraging an achromatic photonic gauge potential in dynamically modulated waveguides, offering improved bandwidth and reduced crosstalk over traditional interferometers.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the use of a photonic gauge potential to create a broadband optical switch with superior performance compared to conventional designs.

## Key findings

- The ABI switch has a larger bandwidth than Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
- The ABI switch exhibits lower crosstalk.
- Photonic gauge potential enhances broadband optical signal processing.

## Abstract

We demonstrate that a photonic gauge potential, which arises from the phase degree of freedom in dynamic refractive-index modulation and hence is achormatic, can be used to achieve a broadband optical switch using the configuration of a photonic Aharonov-Bohm interferometer (ABI). The resulting ABI switch has a far larger bandwidth and lower cross talk than the conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Using coupled-mode theory and full-wave numerical modeling, we compare the response of the two interferometers in the presence of nonidealities. Our results indicate the importance of the photonic gauge potential for broadband optical signal processing.