LCOS-based Flexible Optical Switch for Heterogeneous SDM Fiber Networks

In this study, we present a novel LCOS-based flexible optical switch specifically designed for heterogeneous spatial division multiplexing (SDM) fiber networks. This switch offers seamless connectivity between various types of SDM fibers, eliminating the need for Fan-In and Fan-Out (FIFO) devices. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed switch, we performed extensive measurements on the optical insertion loss and crosstalk characteristics on the full C-band. The results validate the concept of the flexible optical switch and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a heterogeneous SDM fiber network using simple optical devices.