Development of a Suite of Ultra-Dense WDM Components Using Novel Liquid Crystal Technology

65555 Burgeoning optical network bandwidths demand higher capacity, mechanically robust, frequency agile, all-optical switches that can be fabricated at low-cost. This project will design and fabricate a solid state, random access, tunable optical cross switch, with unprecedented channel discrimination capability in the telecommunications bands, using liquid crystal Faby-Perot (LCFP) interferometer technology. Phase I demonstrated the LCFP configuration as a cross switch by the establishment of multiple independently tunable filters on a single glass substrate. Synchronous electronic wavelength tuning of multiple LCFP etalons was demonstrated and proven. In Phase II, a 64-channel optical cross-switch and a 200-channel cross switch will be fabricated and prepared for market. A liquid crystal Fabry-Perot element capable of 1760 channel discrimination in the C-band also will be fabricated. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Fiber optic network wavelength division multiplexing and the switching of hundreds of channels carried on a single trunk fiber should enhance the speed, security, and reliability of long haul, metro, and local area information networks. Robust, reliable, and dense channel switch design should enhance communication bandwidth and speed wherever there is a need to maintain and enhance distributed network efficacy. Immediate commercial opportunities should exist in the telecom, defense, and energy communications industries.