Commercial interest in wavelength division multi/demultiplexer (WDM) components and systems is rapidly increasing. WDMs provide a new dimension for solving capacity and flexibility problems in telecommunication networks. Key components in WDM systems are wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers. Many different techniques for realization of multiplexers and demultiplexers have been reported. Commercially-available components are based on fiber-optic or micro-optic techniques or PHASAR-based devices. A low-cost wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer has been analyzed and demonstrated by using a novel silica waveguide concentrator, an aspheric lens and blazer grating for wavelength separation. Because the rate of core-to-cladding for single-mode fiber, the conventional collimating optics and a reflecting grating cannot be used for single-mode fiber arrays. A silica waveguide concentrator technology is used to match the grating dispersion for dense WDM and fiber size. We constructed a complete, 1 X 8 single-mode WDM using waveguide concentrator techniques. A detailed description, including operation and design, of this device is presented here. Initial test results demonstrated the low cost, low insertion loss and low channel crosstalk of the WDM. These results make these (de)multiplexers very attractive for telecommunications.

Date Published: 18 July 2000
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 4042, Enabling Photonic Technologies for Aerospace Applications II, (18 July 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.391909

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4042:
Enabling Photonic Technologies for Aerospace Applications II
Edward W. Taylor; Andrew R. Pirich, Editor(s)