Bragg grating fast tunable filter for wavelength division multiplexing

A Bragg grating fast tunable filter prototype working over a linear tuning range of 45 nm with a maximum tuning speed of 21 nm/ms has been realized. The tunable filter system is based on two piezoelectric stack actuators moving a mechanical device thus compressing an apodized fiber Bragg grating. The filter allows both traction and compression and can work in transmission and in reflection. It is designed to work with a channel spacing of 100 GHz according to the ITU specifications for wavelength division multiplexing systems.