Polarization-independent low-crosstalk polymeric AWG-based tunable filter operating around 1.55 μm

A wavelength tunable optical filter is a beneficial optical component for dense wavelength-division-multiplexed systems. We report a high-performance polymeric arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG)-based tunable filter made of cross-linked silicone and operating around 1.55 μm. This filter exhibited a TE-TM polarization shift of <0.03, a crosstalk of <-35 dB, an insertion loss of <3 dB, and an 8.8-nm tuning range in the 25/spl deg/C-75/spl deg/C temperature region.