1D MEMS-based wavelength switching subsystem

Over the past few years, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have emerged as a leading technology for realizing transparent optical switching subsystems. MEMS technology allows high-precision micromechanical components such as micromirrors to be mass produced at low cost. These components can be precisely controlled to provide reliable high-speed switching of optical beams in free space. Additionally, MEMS offers solutions that are scalable in both port (fiber) count and the ability to switch large numbers of wavelengths (> 100) per fiber. To date, most of this interest has focused on two-dimensional and three-dimensional MEMS optical crossconnect architectures. We introduce a wavelength-selective switch based on one-dimensional MEMS technology and discuss its performance, reliability, and superior scaling properties. We also review several important applications for this technology in all-optical networks.