Functional Hybrid Liquid Crystal‐Mach–Zehnder Interferometer Platform for High‐Contrast Optical Switching and Logic Operations

ABSTRACT Mach–Zehnder Interferometers (MZIs) are fundamental components in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for optical power splitting and distribution. However, most existing MZI‐based devices are inherently passive, limiting their reconfigurability and functional scope. Here, we present a Functional MZI (F‐MZI) based on a hybrid liquid crystal (LC)–MZI platform implemented on a silicon dioxide substrate with a silicon nitride waveguide. It is specifically designed to serve as a versatile building block for active integrated photonic logic and electrically‐controlled optical power distributions at chip level. The device integrates a 2.7 µm‐long LC strip in one interferometric arm, enabling electrically tunable phase modulation through controlled refractive index variation. Two‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations at 1550 nm confirm the dual functionality of proposed structure, exhibiting tunable transitions between power‐dividing and switching states. Key performance parameters, including extinction ratio, insertion loss, and switching contrast, demonstrate efficient phase‐controlled operation. Furthermore, an all‐optical AND logic gate is realized by cascading five F‐MZIs, showcasing clear binary ON/OFF responses consistent with the AND truth table and achieving a compact footprint. The proposed device offers a robust and reconfigurable foundation for photonic logic, adaptive signal routing, and scalable optical computing architectures, paving the way for multifunctional integrated photonic systems.