LCoS SLM Study and Its Application in Wavelength Selective Switch

Abstract

Abstract:The Liquid-Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) spatial light modulator (SLM) has been used in wavelength selective switch (WSS) systems since the 1990s. However, most of the LCoS devices used for WSS systems have a pixel size larger than 6 µm. Although there are some negative physical effects related to smaller pixel sizes, the benefits of more available ports, larger spatial bandwidth, improved resolution, and the compactness of the whole system make the latest generation LCoS microdisplays highly appealing as the core component in WSS systems. In this review work, three specifications of the WSS system including response time, crosstalk and insertion loss, and optimization directions are discussed. With respect to response time, the achievements of liquid crystal material are briefly surveyed. For the study of crosstalk and insertion loss, related physical effects and their relation to the crosstalk or insertion loss are discussed in detail, preliminary experimental study for these physical effects based on a small pixel LCoS SLM device (GAEA device, provided by Holoeye, 3.74 µm pixel pitch, 10 megapixel resolution, telecom) is first performed, which helps with predicting and optimizing the performance of a WSS system with a small pixel size SLM. In the last part, the trend of LCoS devices for future WSS modules is discussed based on the performance of the GAEA device. Tradeoffs between multiple factors are illustrated. In this work, we present the first study, to our knowledge, of the possible application of a small pixel sized SLM as a switching component in a WSS system.

Multiflow Transmitter With Full Format and Rate Flexibility for Next Generation Networks

“…The IQMs exhibit 28 GHz 3-dB bandwidth while the required voltage for pi-shift is 3.5 V. Subsequently, the modulated signals enter the bulk implementation of the front-end part. An optical delay line (ODL) is used at the output of the upper IQM in order to [34]. In the specific experimental setup, the optical flows are transmitted to the north direction and are dropped at the egress node after transmission over 100 km of SSMF.…”

Design, implementation, and study of the high-resolution high-efficiency liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator for the telecommunication application in the short-wave infrared spectral band

“…Over last few years, LCOS started to play an important role for WSS in industrial reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer [8][9][10] (ROADM) to provide a flexible and reconfigurable routing in the complex and high capacity network architecture. For this application, the flicker, crosstalk and insertion loss (IL) induced by LCOS are three existing issues that can be improved to enhance the overall system performance.…”

Pursuing High Quality Phase-Only Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) Devices

“…Table 1 summarizes their unique products. may cause misjudgment of the transmitted information [14]. Compared to fast response time, phase stability is much more important for optical communication applications.…”

“…because an excellent holographic image can still be achieved using a well linearly calibrated and high-phase precision LCoS-SLM panel. On the other hand, the phase stability of the LCOS-SLM is a vital property in the field of optical communication, because an instantaneous disturbance resulting from an unstable phase may cause misjudgment of the transmitted information [14]. Compared to fast response time, phase stability is much more important for optical communication applications.…”