Optical switching systems

Abstract

We describe a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) reconfigurable optical switch, the switch comprising: a set of arrays of optical beam connections, each comprising an array of optical outputs and having an optical input to receive a WDM input optical signal; a first diffractive element to demultiplexed said WDM input optical signal into a plurality of demultiplexed optical input beams, and to disperse said demultiplexed optical input beams spatially along a first axis; first relay optics between said set of arrays of optical beam connections and said first diffractive element; and a reconfigurable holographic array comprising a 2D array of reconfigurable sub-holograms defining sub-hologram rows and columns; wherein said arrays of said set of arrays are at least one dimensional arrays extending spatially in a direction parallel to said first axis and arranged in a column defining a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; wherein said sub-hologram rows are aligned along said first axis, and wherein said sub-hologram columns are aligned along said second axis; wherein a number of said sub-hologram rows corresponds to a number of arrays in said set of arrays; and wherein each sub-hologram row is configured to receive a set of demultiplexed optical input beams at different carrier wavelengths demultiplexed from the optical input for the array of the set of arrays to which the row corresponds; wherein each of said sub-holograms in a sub-hologram row is reconfigurable to steer a respective wavelength channel of the WDM input signal for the array to which the sub-hologram row corresponds, towards a selected said optical output for the array; and wherein each said sub-hologram row is configured to steer the demultiplexed optical input beams for a respective array of the set of arrays of optical beam connections.