Liquid-crystal WDM optical signal processors

With increasing interest and features in dynamically reconfigurable WDM network architectures, compact non-mechanical optical signal processors are in great demand. We demonstrate several different types of liquid-crystal wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal processors, including broadband optical switches, dynamically variable optical attenuators and harmonic amplifier gain controllers, for fundamental building blocks of reliable, fast-reconfiguring, energy/space-efficient network elements, such as dynamic add/drop multiplexers with dynamic power regulation.