Low loss awg demultiplexer with flat spectral response

Abstract

An optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, capable of exhibiting flat spectral response characteristics while minimizing insertion loss, is proposed. The optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, used in WDM systems, includes a first slab waveguide for dividing powers of input optical signals coupled from the input optical waveguides, an arrayed waveguide grating for guiding the optical signals from the first slab waveguide therethrough in such a fashion that the optical signals have constant phase difference in neighboring waveguides, a second slab waveguide in which the optical signals from the arrayed waveguide grating converge into the focal positions according to their wavelengths, and a taper waveguide interposed between the second slab waveguide and output waveguides and adapted to obtain a flat spectral response while minimizing an insertion loss.