Title :
Integrated multichannel OADMs using polymer Bragg grating MZIs
Author :
Eldada, Louay ; Yin, Shing ; Poga, Constantina ; Glass, Cathy ; Blomquist, Robert ; Nonvood, R.A.
Author_Institution :
Div. of Telecom. Photonics, Allied-Signal Inc., Morristown, NJ, USA
Abstract :
We report the first fabrication of Bragg-grating-based multichannel optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs) in planar polymers. The filters were designed by cascading multiple stages of single-channel multi-/demultiplexers. Each stage consists of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with a Bragg grating across its arms. The 3-dB couplers in each MZI are multimode interference (MMI) couplers. We fabricated the first tapered MMI couplers, which provide compactness. The gratings were printed photochemically, achieving index differences as high as 10/sup -3/ and reflectivities as large as 33 dB. The 3-dB bandwidth is about 0.2 nm. Apodization was used to reduce sidelobes in the reflection spectrum. Four-channel OADMs were produced and exhibited the proper 400-GHz channel separation and ITU grid wavelength alignment, as well as excellent channel isolation and uniform channel response.
Keywords :
Mach-Zehnder interferometers; demultiplexing equipment; diffraction gratings; integrated optics; multiplexing equipment; optical communication equipment; optical couplers; optical fabrication; optical polymers; photochemistry; Bragg-grating-based multichannel optical add/drop multiplexer fabrication; GHz channel separation; ITU grid wavelength alignment; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; apodization; cascading multiple stages; channel isolation; index differences; integrated multichannel OADM; multimode interference couplers; photochemically printed gratings; planar polymers; polymer Bragg grating MZI; reflection spectrum; reflectivities; single-channel multi-/demultiplexers; tapered MMI couplers; uniform channel response; Add-drop multiplexers; Arm; Bragg gratings; Couplers; Interference; Optical add-drop multiplexers; Optical device fabrication; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical polymers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE