Abstract

Optical frequency-division-multiplexing (FDM) systems have been widely studied in order to achieve large-capacity optical networks. The key components in this field are optical functional devices such as multi- frequency-channel selectors^[1] and band-pass optical filters. Recently, we have developed a circuit synthesis algorithm^[2] by analogy with electrical digital filters. We first briefly review the evolution of silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs)^[3]. Then we describe the new generation of PLCs, including programmable optical filters^[4], designed using the synthesis algorithm.

© 1995 Optical Society of America