Selective-broadcast optical passive star comer design for dense WDM networks

A technique is described for design and implementation of an integrated selective-broadcast passive optical star couplers that uses a space-varying refractive index slab. The coupler offers the potential for inexpensive implementation of various routing schemes. It is possible to incorporate a network traffic routing matrix in the design fabric of this bandwidth-selective coupler. The matrix may resemble any desired physical cross connection for routing user traffic. As an example, a shuffle-exchange cross-connect implementation is described. It is shown how this specific routing matrix can be built into the coupler fabric. Such a coupler has application in dense wavelength division multiplexed optical passive star networks where a selective or limited-broadcast coupling capability is desirable.<>