Tunable optical filters for dense WDM networks

Dan Sadot, Efraim Boimovich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

248 Scopus citations

Abstract

WDM is currently taking over as the leading technology in point-to-point transmission links. For optical implementation of WDM networks, logical functionalities such as wavelength (channel) selection should be carried out in the wavelength domain; thus, development of dynamic optical devices is required. One key device is a tunable optical filter. Important features of such a filter include low insertion loss, narrow bandwidth, high sidelobe suppression, large dynamic range, fast tuning speed, a simple control mechanism, small size, and cost effectiveness. Here, an extensive overview of the different technologies used to produce tunable optical filters is presented. Among them, fiber filters such as fiber Bragg gratings and fiber Fabry Perot are the most commercialized, yet inherently limited in their dynamic speeds. For high demanding dynamics, micromachined and acousto-optic filters can offer a good solution in the microseconds tuning speeds. Faster tunable devices, in the nanosecond tuning speeds, might emerge out of microresonators, electrooptic filters, and active DBR filters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-55
Number of pages6
JournalIEEE Communications Magazine
Volume36
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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