Multichannel operation of an integrated acoustooptic wavelength routing switch for WDM systems

Polarization independent acousto-optic tunable filters (PIAOTF´s) can operate as transparent wavelength-selective crossconnects to route signals in wavelength division multiplexed optical networks. In this paper, a new low power PIAOTF is characterized as a switch in multiwavelength operation, using four equally spaced lightwave signals with wavelengths between 1546 nm and 1558 nm. Interchannel interference due to sidelobe excitation is lower than /spl minus/11 dB for single wavelength switching and is equal to /spl minus/6 dB in the extreme case of simultaneous switching of all wavelength channels. Sources of interport and interchannel crosstalk for single and multiple wavelength switching are identified.<>