Title :
Multiwavelength performance of an apodized acousto-optic switch
Author :
Smith, David A. ; d´Alessandro, A. ; Baran, Jane E. ; Fritz, Daniel J. ; Jackel, Janet L. ; Chakravarthy, Rohini S.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Appl. Phys., Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH, USA
fDate :
9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Use of the acousto-optic switch as a wavelength-routing element in WDM networks is described. The need for deep isolation between wavelength channels has resulted in the search for efficient sidelobe suppression techniques such as tapering of the acousto-optic profile by imbedding an optical waveguide in one arm of an acoustic directional coupler. The theory of sidelobe-suppression in the optical transmission function of a SAW-coupler apodized acousto-optic filter is presented. A low-sidelobe SAW-coupler-apodized AO switch was fabricated and used in a 1.5 micron multi-wavelength WDM switching demonstration employing four 4 nm-spaced optical channels. Crosstalk was below -19 dB for single wavelength selection and below -15 dB for arbitrary routing patterns, a dramatic improvement over unapodized AO switches
Keywords :
acoustic imaging; acousto-optical filters; acousto-optical switches; directional couplers; optical communication equipment; optical crosstalk; optical directional couplers; optical fibre networks; optical images; surface acoustic wave couplers; telecommunication network routing; wavelength division multiplexing; 1.5 micron; SAW-coupler apodized acousto-optic filter; WDM networks; acoustic directional coupler; acousto-optic profile; apodized acousto-optic switch; arbitrary routing patterns; deep isolation; efficient sidelobe suppression techniques; low-sidelobe SAW-coupler-apodized AO switch fabrication; multi-wavelength WDM switching demonstration; multiwavelength performance; nm-spaced optical channels; optical crosstalk; optical transmission function; optical waveguide; sidelobe-suppression; unapodized AO switches; wavelength channels; wavelength-routing element; Acoustic waveguides; Acoustic waves; Directional couplers; Filtering theory; Optical crosstalk; Optical filters; Optical switches; Optical waveguide theory; Optical waveguides; WDM networks;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
