Compact wavelength-selective switch for gigabit filtering in access networks

A compact [200×200 μm
²
] wavelength-selective switch based on thermally tunable SiO
₂
--Si
₃
N
₄
microring resonators has been designed and realized. The switch supports gigabit filtering applications in access networks. Spectral measurements show an ON-OFF ratio of 12 dB and a channel separation of 20 dB. The 10-Gb/s measurements on a single ring show no degradation of the modulated signal and a theoretical BER (bit-error rate) <10/sup -12/.