Multi-channel amplitude equalization based on liquid crystal polarization interference filters

We propose the design of a multi-channel amplitude-equalizing polarization interference filter based on stacked liquid crystal birefringent blocks. Each block, which is optimized to control a predefined wavelength channel, consists of three components. The wavelength blocking/transmitting and the equalizing actions are provided by the liquid crystal component whose optical path difference varies between two particular values when its birefringence is electrically controlled. For a typical three-channel equalizing filter, the three liquid crystal cells provide all eight possible combinations to block/transmit channels and also allow us to independently equalize their corresponding levels. The benefit of such a polarization-based filter is that it operates without free-space demultiplexing optics and with no moving parts. It can be used as a key element in the present reconfigurable optical networks.