Cascaded coupler Mach-Zehnder channel dropping filters for wavelength-division-multiplexed optical systems

Author

Kuznetsov, M.

Author_Institution

Crawford Hill Lab., AT&T Bell Labs., Holmdel, NJ, USA

Volume

12

Issue

2

fYear

1994

fDate

2/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

226

Lastpage

230

Abstract

We describe the design and characteristics of cascaded coupler Mach-Zehnder (CMZ) channel adding/dropping filters that select every nth channel (n=2,3,4,...) from the wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical signal. Using the truncated binomial coupling weight distribution, which appears to be optimal, such filters achieve low (<-30 dB) sidelobe levels and good finesse with just a modest number of stages. We also show that the number of filter stages grows only linearly with the required filter finesse and thus the number of selectable channels. Such WDM filters can be conveniently implemented using the silicon or InP integrated optical technology

Keywords

directional couplers; integrated optics; light interferometers; optical couplers; optical filters; wavelength division multiplexing; InP; InP integrated optical technology; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; Si; Si integrated optical technology; WDM optical signal; adding/dropping filters; cascaded coupler Mach-Zehnder channel dropping filters; design; finesse; selectable channels; sidelobe levels; truncated binomial coupling weight distribution; wavelength-division-multiplexed optical systems; Directional couplers; Gratings; Indium phosphide; Integrated optics; Optical coupling; Optical devices; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical waveguides; Wavelength division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.350600

Filename

350600