Applications of active arrayed-waveguide gratings in dynamic WDM networking and routing

We describe how active arrayed-waveguide gratings (AWGs) may find a diverse range of applications in future dynamic wavelength division multiplexed (W DM) networking and routing, Our initial simulations indicate that these app lications include dynamic signal power and erbium-doped fiber amplifier (ED FA) gain equalization with a dynamic range of 12 dB, and interchannel ampli fied spontaneous emission (ASE) suppression by more than 20 dB; optical add /drop multiplexing with passband-flattened channels and suppressions of 15 dB; and dynamic dispersion compensation of up to +/-300 ps/nm.