Design of polymer arrayed waveguide gratings for access networks and CWDM applications

Abstract

The cost-effectiveness and simpler implementing solutions are enabling Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) to gain increasing attention as a carrier in access and metro applications, replacing. the alternative Dense-WDM which is well established in long-haul application. Arrayed Waveguide Gratings (AWG) which multiplex and demultiplex light of different wavelengths forms a key component in the construction of flexible and large-capacity WDM networks. In the present work, a 2/spl times/8 CWDM polymer AWG is designed and simulation has been performed to test the transmission spectral response of the device. The device is designed to operate at around 1.52 /spl mu/m with 20 nm wavelength spacing between the channels. The nonuniformity of the output response and the crosstalk are found to be less than 1.5 dB and -30 dB respectively. The insertion loss of around 7 dB is higher owing to 5 /spl mu/m spacing between the arrayed waveguides (AW) dictated by fabrication constraints and also due to the sharp bending-radius of the AW dictated by the design constraint. A multitransceiver set is designed using the polymer AWG to study the feasibility of using AWG for the access/Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) applications.