APPLICATIONS OF FLC SLM DYNAMIC HOLOGRAMS TO WDM NETWORK COMPONENTS

This paper presents an overview of ferroelectric liquid crystal spatia l light modulator (FLC SLM) dynamic digital holographic filtering tech nology and its application to WDM network components. Early work demon strated a dynamically tunable filter and, in conjunction with an erbiu m-doped fibre amplifier (EDFA), a fibre laser([1]). The hologram desig n algorithm was subsequently expanded to yield a multiple variable amp litude passband filter, or spectral equaliser, for four([2]) or six([3 ]) WDM channels. Latest results for eight-channel equalisation are pre sented in this article, together with a demonstration of flattening th e spectral shape of an individual passband. The paper concludes with a discussion of future work, including the redesign of filter parameter s to meet ITU standards, and further improvements in computerised holo gram design to achieve finer tuning resolution.