Integrated-optic acoustically-tunable filters for WDM networks

The background needed to understand the integrated-optic collinear acoustically tunable optical filters (ATOFs) and the fabrication and performance of both simple and multielement acoustooptic tunable filters is presented. The most important sources of crosstalk between channels simultaneously selected by a single device are discussed. ATOFs have the combined virtues of narrow passband (subnanometer bandwidth), broad tuning range (hundreds of nanometers have been demonstrated), and simultaneous independent multiple-channel filtering. The theory and practice of collinear integrated optic acoustooptic filters is presented. Devices which involve higher-order integration are discussed, including multiple-state filters for enhanced sidelobe suppression and polarization-independent configurations. Various sources of interchannel crosstalk are derived and demonstrated in multiwavelength filtering experiments.<>