Large NxN waveguide grating router

摘要

The limitation of N in an NxN Wavelength Grating Router (WGR) is determined to be because of the intrinsic diffraction characteristics of the grating that occurs when N approaches the diffraction order m at which the grating operates. The N in a NxN WGR device is maximized for input signal channels equally spaced either in frequency or in wavelength. For the wavelength case, N is increased by appropriate changes in the spacing of the output ports of the WGR and/or by slightly correcting the channels wavelengths. It has been recognized that because the intrinsic diffraction characteristcs of the grating, restrictions in the size of N generally happens when N approaches the diffraction order m at which the grating operates. We have developed a technique for maximizing N in a NxN WGR device for channels equally spaced either in frequency or in wavelength. For the wavelength case, N is increased by appropriate changes in the spacing of the output ports of the WRG and/or by slightly correcting the channels wavelengths.