Abstract
The design, assembly, and performance of a prototype 1 x 8
free-space switch demonstrater using reconfigurable holograms are reported.
Central to the switch fabric is a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) on
silicon spatial light modulator (SLM) deposited with a 540 x 1 array of
highly reflective and planar mirror strips. The input and output ports of the
switch are fabricated as a linear array of silica planar waveguides connected
to single-mode fibers, and the holographic beam-steerer operates without the
need for adjustment or dynamic alignment. The waveguide array and the single
Fourier transform lens for the 2f holographic replay system are housed in an
opto-mechanical mount to provide stability. The switch operates at 1.55
µ m wavelength and has a designed optical bandwidth of >60 nm. The
first measured insertion loss and crosstalk figures are 16.9 dB and -19.1 dB,
respectively. Improvements in SLM performance, the use of new addressing
schemes and the introduction of better alignment techniques are expected to
improve these figures considerably. The preliminary performance of a 3 x 3
optical crossconnect is also presented to show that this technology is
scalable to N x N switching fabrics.
© 2000 IEEE
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