Free-space micromachined optical crossconnects: routes to enhanced port-count and reduced loss

Author

Lin, L.Y. ; Goldstein, E.L. ; Tkach, R.W.

Author_Institution

AT&T Bell Labs., Red bank, NJ, USA

Volume

4

fYear

1999

fDate

21-26 Feb. 1999

Firstpage

124

Abstract

We investigate fundamental loss mechanisms in free-space micromachined optical crossconnects due to diffraction, aperturing, and mirror-curvature, and identify means of combating them. The effects are shown experimentally to permit 16/spl times/16 crossconnects with 2.9 dB of loss. Theory suggests a route to 1024-port multistage switches with 6 dB of loss.

Keywords

micro-optics; micromachining; mirrors; optical fibre networks; optical interconnections; optical losses; optical switches; wavelength division multiplexing; 1024-port multistage switches; 16/spl times/16 crossconnects; 2.9 dB; 6 dB; aperturing; diffraction; enhanced port-count; free-space micromachined optical crossconnects; fundamental loss mechanisms; mirror-curvature; reduced loss; Fabrics; Geometrical optics; Mirrors; Optical beams; Optical crosstalk; Optical fiber networks; Optical interconnections; Optical losses; Optical saturation; Optical switches;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 1999, and the International Conference on Integrated Optics and Optical Fiber Communication. OFC/IOOC '99. Technical Digest

Conference_Location

San Diego, CA, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-582-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OFC.1999.766015

Filename

766015