AN INTEGRATABLE POLARIZATION-INDEPENDENT TUNABLE FILTER FOR WDM SYSTEMS - THE MULTIGRATING FILTER

After a review of the design principles, we present new experimental a nd theoretical results about the multigrating filter (MGF), a tunable channel selection filter for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) tra nsmission systems, Bit error rates were measured at 2.5 Gb/s for singl e- and multichannel operation of a packaged polarization independent f our-channel MGF with integrated amplifiers. The single-channel results are compared with theory, A monolithic tunable channel dropping compo nent has also been fabricated by integrating two MGF's, a splitter, an d amplifiers, Bit error rates measurements are presented for optical ( at 2.5 Gb/s) and electrical on-chip (at 622 Mb/s) channel dropping in single- and multichannel operation.