Abstract
The core selective switch (CSS) is an optical spatial switch that has been recently proposed as a key building block to achieve a scalable and low-insertion-loss spatial cross-connects for use in future spatial channel networks. In this paper, we report on a novel CSS design employing a two dimensionally arranged microlens-based multicore fiber (MCF) collimator array and a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror array. The former enables precise alignment between MCFs and collimator lenses, and the latter yields polarization-independent high reflection over a wide wavelength range and a large tilt angle. Based on the design, a compact (∼50 mm) five-core <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1 \times 8$</tex-math></inline-formula> CSS prototype is fabricated. We experimentally show that the CSS prototype exhibits low insertion loss (1.2∼2.7 dB), low polarization dependent loss (< 0.25 dB), and low crosstalk (< <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ - 30$</tex-math></inline-formula> dB) characteristics over an ultra-wide wavelength range from 1500 nm to 1630 nm. Bit-error-rate measurements using optical signals in the C-band, S-band, and L-band show that the CSS prototype incurs no optical signal-to-noise ratio penalty in spatial channel routing over an ultra-wide wavelength band.
Highlights
There is broad consensus in the telecommunications industry and academia nowadays that the capacity of commercial optical transmission systems is rapidly approaching the theoretical limit for conventional single mode fibers (SMFs) while the volume of Internet traffic continues to grow exponentially
Employing the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors instead of an LCoS SLM, an insertion loss (IL) of less than 2.5 dB and a polarization-dependent loss (PDL) of less than 0.25 dB are achieved for all cores across the very wide-wavelength range of 130 nm
We reported on a novel core selective switch (CSS) design employing a microlens-based multicore fiber (MCF) collimator array and a MEMS mirror array
Summary
There is broad consensus in the telecommunications industry and academia nowadays that the capacity of commercial optical transmission systems is rapidly approaching the theoretical limit for conventional single mode fibers (SMFs) while the volume of Internet traffic continues to grow exponentially. In order to prepare for an MS failure, the former requires two ultra-high port-count optical MSs in the order of CD × CD from the very beginning of the system deployment even if the initial traffic volume is low. Once an MS failure occurs, all the traffic entering the SXC is forced to be switched to the secondary MS, which may result in a large-scale service disruption. This originates from the non-port-modular nature of this SXC architecture.
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