Optical switch and switching method

1 . An optical switch that switches an optical path of signal light obtained by modulating carrier light by a control signal and a data signal, comprising:

an optical modulation element that:

reflects or refracts the signal light, and

includes cells each having an independently set phase modulation amount with which the signal light is emitted in a direction corresponding to a ratio of a period of the control signal to a period of the carrier light.

2 . The optical switch according to claim 1 , wherein that the signal light is emitted in a direction corresponding to a wavelength of the carrier light and the ratio.

3 . The optical switch according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an input port that guides the signal light that has not yet been reflected or refracted by the optical modulation element; and

output ports each of which guides the signal light reflected or refracted by the optical modulation element.

4 . The optical switch according claim 1 , wherein

the optical modulation element is a reflective optical modulation element, and

the signal light is reflected in the direction corresponding to the ratio.

5 . The optical switch according to claim 1 , wherein

the optical modulation element is a transmissive optical modulation element, and

the signal light is refracted in the direction corresponding to the ratio.

6 . The optical switch according to claim 1 , wherein each of the cells carries out phase modulation by spin injection into a magnetization free layer.

7 . A switching method comprising:

switching an optical path of signal light obtained by modulating carrier light by a control signal and a data signal;

reflecting or refracting the signal light with an optical modulation element including cells each having an independently set phase modulation amount with which the signal light is emitted in a direction corresponding to a ratio of a period of the control signal to a period of the carrier light.