Spectral passband filter with independently variable center wavelength and bandwidth

Abstract

We introduce a new class of compact grating-based spectral filters and demonstrate a two-port spectral filter that uses a single two-axis microelectromechanical systems tilt mirror to continuously tune the center wavelength across 36 nm and independently tune the passband 3-dB spectral width from 28 to 210 GHz. We also demonstrate the principle of a three-port channel-drop switch