N x N Cyclic-Frequency Router With Improved Performance Based on Arrayed-Waveguide Grating

We have developed an N x N cyclic-frequency router with improved performance by employing two types of modified configuration; a uniform-loss and cyclic-frequency (ULCF) arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and an interconnected multiple AWG. We have demonstrated a compact 50-GHz-spacing 64 x 64 ULCF-AWG router with low and uniform insertion losses of 5.4-6.8 dB and frequency deviations from the grid of less than +/- 8 GHz. We have also demonstrated a 100-GHz-spacing 8 x 8 interconnected multiple-AWG router with a practical configuration, very low and uniform insertion losses of 2.3-3.4 dB, and frequency deviations from the grid of less than +/- 6 GHz. We discuss the suitable or realizable scale of the two types of routers by comparison with a conventional AWG router in terms of optical and dimensional performance and productivity.