Free-space micromachined optical crossconnects: routes to enhanced port-count and reduced loss

We investigate fundamental loss mechanisms in free-space micromachined optical crossconnects due to diffraction, aperturing, and mirror-curvature, and identify means of combating them. The effects are shown experimentally to permit 16/spl times/16 crossconnects with 2.9 dB of loss. Theory suggests a route to 1024-port multistage switches with 6 dB of loss.