1x11 few-mode fiber wavelength selective switch using photonic lanterns

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Photonics

Background:

• Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS) are crucial components in optical networks.
• Current WSS technologies face limitations in supporting advanced functionalities like spatial superchannels.
• Integrating multiple spatial modes within a single optical channel is a key area for increasing network capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel 11-port wavelength selective switch (WSS).
• To enable support for spatial superchannels utilizing three spatial modes.
• To combine photonic lanterns with a high-port count single-mode WSS for enhanced performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized photonic lanterns to manage spatial modes.
• Integrated photonic lanterns with a high-port count single-mode WSS.
• Developed an 11-port WSS architecture.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated an 11-port WSS.
• The WSS supports spatial superchannels with three spatial modes.
• The combined system shows efficient wavelength and spatial mode switching.

Conclusions:

• The proposed WSS architecture effectively supports multi-mode spatial superchannels.
• This technology offers a pathway to increased spectral efficiency and network capacity.
• The integration of photonic lanterns with WSS is a viable approach for future optical network advancements.