Abstract
We report on monolithically integrated wavelength cross-connects (WXCs) on an enhanced silicon photonic platform with integrated micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) actuators. An 8 × 8 WXC with 8 wavelength channels comprising 16 echelle gratings and 512 silicon photonic MEMS switches is integrated on a 9.7 mm × 6.7 mm silicon chip. The WXC inherits the fundamental advantages of silicon photonic MEMS space switches, including low loss, broad optical bandwidth, large fabrication tolerance, and simple digital control. The WXC exhibits a low crosstalk of −30 dB, a submicrosecond switching time of 0.7 µs, and on-chip optical insertion losses varying from 8.8 dB to 16.4 dB. To our knowledge, it is the largest channel capacity (64 channels = 8 ports × 8 wavelengths) integrated WXC ever reported.
Highlights
Wavelength-selective switches (WSSs) and wavelength crossconnects (WXCs) are widely used to route individual wavelengths in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks
WXCs can be implemented by deploying WSSs based on the route-and-select architecture or combining wavelengthmultiplexers and space switches (SSs)
For the former approach, WSSs are realized with free-space optics utilizing liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulators (SLMs) or digital micromirror devices (DMDs)
Summary
Wavelength-selective switches (WSSs) and wavelength crossconnects (WXCs) are widely used to route individual wavelengths in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks. WXCs can be implemented by deploying WSSs based on the route-and-select architecture or combining wavelength (de)multiplexers and space switches (SSs). For the former approach, WSSs are realized with free-space optics utilizing liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulators (SLMs) or digital micromirror devices (DMDs).. For the former approach, WSSs are realized with free-space optics utilizing liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulators (SLMs) or digital micromirror devices (DMDs).5 The latter approach is based on integrated planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) technology.. The advantages of silicon photonic MEMS are favorable for large-scale WXCs. In this paper, we will describe the design, fabrication, and characterization of a fully integrated WXC with echelle grating multiplexers/demultiplexers and silicon photonic MEMS space switches. The WXC has simple digital control and does not have static power consumption
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