Low-cost active WDM components via polymer-composite switchable Bragg gratings

摘要

Abstract: Foster-Miller is developing a family of low cost active WDM components based on electronically switchable Bragg gratings (ESBG) in holographically polymerized polymer dispersed liquid crystal. These provide approximately 50 $mu@s switching speeds, adequate for many network reconfiguration functions.Space switches, wavelength selective add-drop multiplexers, attenuators and switchable taps may be integrated in a variety of architectures on chip by using ESBGs with different periods and device geometries. ESBG fabrication is a one step, low cost process compatible with standard silicon optical waveguide techniques. !15