Title :
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
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;
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
DOI :
10.1109/OFC.1999.766015
