摘要 |
An optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) device comprising optical components that are integrated together to provide an optical WDM that does not require circulators, that has simplified alignment and that is relatively low in cost. The WDM device comprises an integrated port separator, a dispersive element and a reflector. The integrated port separator comprises various optical components, that spatially separate the polarization components of a light beam input through an input port of the integrated port separator. The spatially separated polarization components are output from the integrated port separator and impinge on the dispersive element, which spatially separates the wavelengths associated with the polarization components impinging thereon. The spatially separated wavelengths then impinge on the reflective element and are reflected with angles of polarization that depend on the state of the reflective element. The reflected polarization components maintain their respective wavelengths when they are reflected. However, when they are reflected, they are directed along a path through the integrated port separator that depends on the angles of polarization of the reflected polarization components, which depends on the state of the reflective element.
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