To provide an apparatus for directing and controlling an optical signal in three dimensions or higher.

The three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide apparatus (10, 30) have a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The three-dimensional photonic crystal has a plurality of lasers (12-1 to 12-12) arranged one above another. Each of the plurality of layers has a plurality of elements (14, 16) that are parallel to and spaced from one another. The plurality of elements (14, 16) in each layer (12-1 to 12-12) are arranged at an angle other than zero with respect to the plurality of elements (14, 16) in adjacent layers (12-1 to 12-12). The three-dimensional photonic crystal also has a waveguide (31) therein. The waveguide comprises a first region of defects in a segment (14-2) of an element in one (12-11) of the plurality of layers (12-1 to 12-12) and having a light input (34), and a second region of defects in at least a segment of an element in an adjacent layer (12-10) of the plurality of layers and having two light outputs (36, 38). The first and second regions of defects intersect to provide an optical splitter.