Arrayed waveguide gratings for wavelength routing

Author

McGreer, Kenneth A.

Author_Institution

Manitoba Univ., Winnipeg, Man., Canada

Volume

36

Issue

12

fYear

1998

fDate

12/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

62

Lastpage

68

Abstract

Wavelength routing can be performed in the optical domain for both long-haul and passive optical networks. Arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) can perform wavelength routing for a large number of optical channels and provide a high level of functionality on an integrated chip. The AWG guides light on a planar lightwave circuit into an array of waveguides that provide dispersion to separate the different wavelengths of light. Routing functions can be performed on individual wavelengths. With this technology, optical cross-connects, optical add/drop multiplexers, and passive optical routers have been demonstrated. Performance issues-such as insertion loss, polarization dependence, passband shape, passband position, crosstalk, and temperature dependence-are being addressed so that AWGs will be practical for deployment into systems

Keywords

diffraction gratings; integrated optoelectronics; multiplexing equipment; optical arrays; optical communication equipment; optical dispersion; optical switches; optical waveguide components; telecommunication network routing; AWG; arrayed waveguide gratings; crosstalk; dispersion; functionality; insertion loss; integrated chip; optical add/drop multiplexers; optical channels; optical cross-connects; optical networks; passband position; passband shape; passive optical routers; performance issues; planar lightwave circuit; polarization dependence; temperature dependence; wavelength routing; Arrayed waveguide gratings; Circuits; Integrated optics; Optical arrays; Optical crosstalk; Optical fiber networks; Optical waveguides; Passband; Passive optical networks; Wavelength routing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Communications Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0163-6804

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/35.735879

Filename

735879