Automated design and sensitivity analysis of wavelengh-division multiplexing filters

An automated approach to the design of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) filters is based on the combination of ideas from classical design approaches with an integer optimization technique. This approach turns out to be extremely efficient from a computational point of view and makes it possible to construct a set of significantly different filter designs with nearly equivalent spectral properties. The sensitivity of WDM filters is analyzed by a computer simulation of the deposition process with turning-point optical monitoring. This analysis enables the designer to compare feasibility properties of various filter designs.