摘要 |
A multiplexed optical communication system comprising a source (12), a common optical bus (18, 20), a multiplexer (14) and a demultiplexer (16). The multiplexer comprises a plurality of modulators (50), each being formed in an electro-optic substrate and comprising a modulated arm (54) and a reference arm (56). Each arm comprises an optical waveguide, and the arms of each modulator have an optical path length difference LM(i) that is greater than the coherence length of the source, and that differs from the path length difference of each other modulator by an amount greater than the coherence length of the source. Each modulator also includes electrodes for varying the optical path length of its modulated arm based upon an electrical input signal representing an input data channel. The demultiplexer comprises a plurality of detectors, each having first and second detector arms, each detector arm comprising an optical waveguide. The detector arms have an optical path length difference LD(i) that differs from the optical path length difference of an associated modulator by an amount no greater than the coherence length of the source.
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