Analysis of adaptive dispersion compensators with double-AWG structures

The properties of a structure consisting of two cascaded arrayed-waveguide gratings (AWGs), including a lens in its middle focal plane, are investigated. The transfer function is calculated analytically by means of Fourier optics. From this, the dispersion characteristics were derived for an arbitrary lens and especially for a lens with a parabolic phase signature. Changing the coefficient of this parabolic phase signature also changes the chromatic dispersion of the component. It is therefore well suited for adaptive dispersion compensation.