Optical computers require microscopic optical switches to turn signals on and of

Question

Optical computers require microscopic optical switches to turn signals on and off. One device for doing so, which can be implemented in an integrated circuit, is the Mach-Zender interferometer seen in the figure(Figure 1). Light from an on-chip infrared laser (lambda = 1.070 ) is split into two waves that travel equal distances around the arms of the interferometer. One arm passes through an electro-optic crystal, a transparent material that can change its index of refraction in response to an applied voltage. Suppose both arms are exactly the same length and the crystal's index of refraction with no applied voltage is also 1.559.What is the first index of refraction of the electro-optic crystal larger than 1.559 that changes the optical switch to the state opposite the state you found in part a? I posted part a of this question as well.

Explanation / Answer

(2*pi*?x)/? = 2*pi*m for constructive, where ?x is the path length difference (2*pi*?x)/? = 2*pi*(m+.5) for destructive, where ?x is the path length difference ?/n = ?_n

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