SC265 Passive Optical Components and Filtering Technologies

Sunday, March 21, 2010
4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Bruce Nyman¹, Christi Madsen²; ¹Consultant, USA, ²Texas A&M Univ., USA
Level: Beginner (no background or minimal training is necessary to understand course material)


Course Description

Today’s WDM networks rely on subsystems, such as ROADMs and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, incorporate many types of passive components. For example, a typical optical amplifier will contain an isolator, a pump and signal multiplexer, optical taps and a gain flattening filter. In this Short Course, we will discuss the passive components found in a typical WDM system. For each one, students will be able to identify the system requirements on device performance and assess the technology options for meeting those requirements. While passive devices may be simple in function, choosing and specifying them can be challenging. Performance issues such as insertion loss, return loss, polarization dependent loss, polarization mode dispersion and chromatic dispersion are important, as are temperature and wavelength dependencies. Component fabrication techniques, including fused fiber, dielectric filters, planar waveguide, and fiber Bragg gratings are surveyed, with an emphasis on their relative strengths and weaknesses. For effective specification and system design, accurate measurements are critical. An understanding of the various measurement methods and issues will be provided. A fundamental understanding of optical filters will be addressed in the course. We take a signal processing approach, which allows us to compare the properties of such diverse filters as waveguide grating routers, Fabry-Perot etalons, ring resonators and thin-film filters. The source of chromatic dispersion in filters and its relationship to their magnitude response will be discussed. Optical filter applications will be presented, including signal conditioning applications such as tunable dispersion compensation, as well as optical sensing applications.


Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

  • Identify the device requirements and technology options of the passive components in a WDM system.
  • Compare filter choices for applications, such as chromatic dispersion compensation and monitoring.
  • Define specifications for passive components to meet system requirements.
  • Understand the various measurement methods and important parameters.
  • Explain the basic commonality and differences between optical filter types.
  • Identify the trade-offs to obtain a more idealized, dispersionless, boxlike spectral response.

Intended Audience

This course is for those who need an introduction into the various types of optical components and filters used in WDM systems, including practitioners and technical managers responsible for system design, integration and testing, as well as those who need to deliver and verify components for WDM systems.


Biography

Bruce Nyman is currently a consultant for a number of photonics companies. From 2005 to 2009 he was with Princeton Lightwave as Vice President of system solutions. Previously, he developed optical amplifiers and measurement equipment at JDS Uniphase and optically amplified undersea systems at Bell Labs. He received his doctorate from Columbia University and is a member of the IEEE and Sigma Psi.

Christi Madsen is a professor at Texas A&M University, focusing on photonic processing for optical communications and sensing. Previously, she was a Distinguished MTS with Bell Labs. She is an OSA Fellow, coauthored Optical Filter Design and Analysis: A Signal Processing Approach, holds 29 patents, and has published numerous papers.