Optical Switching Technology for Space Division Multiplexing Network Nodes

Abstract

Space division multiplexing (SDM) technology is becoming more attractive because it offers large transmission capacity of a multiple of the spatial channel count. An SDM network with multi-core fibers (MCFs) provides a degree of freedom of spatial switching in addition to wavelength selective switching. Thus, wavelength routing devices for SDM networks also have to be developed. This paper reviews recent work on N-in-1 wavelength selective switch (WSS) devices suitable for SDM networks. The devices are based on the spatial and planar optical platform, which utilizes the advantages of free-space and waveguide optics.