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Design of a low-cost and compact 1 × 5 wavelength-selective switch for access networks.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lu, Tianxin 
Collings, Neil 
Robertson, Brian 

Abstract

This paper describes the design, modeling, construction, and testing of a low-cost and compact (80  mm×50  mm) 1×5 wavelength-selective switch. The core beam-deflecting element of the switch is a nematic liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator. The switch is designed for coarse wavelength-division multiplexing wavelengths in order to bring the benefit of a low-cost, compact, and robust switching design toward the customer end in the access network. During the system development stage, a single optomechanical assembly was designed and prototyped using the three-dimensional printing technology. The experimental results show an insertion loss of -13.8±1.4  dB and a worst-case scenario crosstalk level of -24.8  dB. Approaches for enhancing the performance of the switch are analyzed and discussed.

Description

Keywords

1005 Communications Technologies

Journal Title

Appl Opt

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1559-128X
1539-4522

Volume Title

Publisher

The Optical Society
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/F00897X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H00274X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H007571/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H022384/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/F00897X/1).