Opto-VLSI based Broadband Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer

In this paper, a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) structure using an Opto-VLSI processor, two arrayed waveguide grating de/multiplexers (AWGs) and a custom-made fiber array is described. The fiber array consist of N pairs of upper and lower fibers, where each pair could function as an add, a drop or a thru multiplexers depending on the hologram generated by the Opto-VLSI processor. Experimental results show that the proposed ROADM structure has an average insertion loss of 5.5 dB for all the functions and a uniformity of 0.3 dB over a wide wavelength range from 1524 nm to 1576 nm. A low drop/thru crosstalk levels of around -40 dB is also demonstrated.