Planar holographic optical processing devices

Time-domain optical processing implemented through linear spectral filterin g offers unique potential for future high-bandwidth communications systems. One key to realization of this potential is the development of robust, cos t-effective, fully integrated filtering devices. A new spectral filtering d evice concept, derived from the unique properties of index holograms stampe d or otherwise written in thin planar waveguide slabs, is described. The ho lograms that are described provide for high-resolution spectral filtering w hile at the same time mapping general input spatial waveforms to desired ou tput waveforms (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.