Abstract

The acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is a promising wavelength routing component in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems because it permits independent multichannel switching, as needed for reconfigurable all-optical networks.^1,2 Recent improvements to the AOTF performance as a WDM switch include passband flattening and counter-propagation of drive signals.^3,4 This paper describes a packaged four-wavelength AOTF switch employing both of these techniques, in conjunction with a novel thermal stabilization approach. This device, which utilizes external polarization beam splitters and operates with 4-nm channel separation, is shown schematically in Fig. 1.

© 1996 Optical Society of America