Compact High-Speed Wideband Multi-Drop Wavelength Tunable Filter Based on Super Compact Grating Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T007 Topic Title: Compact High-Speed Wideband Multi-Drop Wavelength Tunable Filter Based on Super Compact Grating Proposal No.: N054-007-0117 Firm: OptoNet 828 Davis Street, Suite 206 Evanston, Illinois 60201-4420 Contact: Jing Ma Phone: (847) 425-7585 Web Site: www.optonetinc.com Abstract: The proposed project will undertake the research, design, and development of key concepts and technologies for high-speed electronically tunable channel filter, based on super compact grating technology that has been developed in OptoNet. This project is proposed by a strong multidisciplinary team of industry and academic researchers, including device design and packaging experts from OptoNet Inc. and device physics and fabrication experts from the Northwestern University. In Phase I of this project, the emphasis will be on the development of a proof-of-concept for the proposed fast tuning speed, wide tuning range fiber optic compatible wavelength filter. The proposed SCG based Tunable Filter has the following advantages: (1) Ultrafast tuning speed of <10nsec. (2) High signal extinction of >40dB. (3) Lossless or amplified throughput by integrated SOAs. (4) Compact size with a chip area <10mm2. (5) High ruggedness based on monolithic integration. (6). High manufacturability due to monolithic integration. (7) High functionalities with functions as channel equalizer or multi-channel amplifier. (8) Signal bypass of un-dropped signal channels. (9) Multiple-Channel Dropping. (10) Wide tuning range of >32nm. (11) Accurate channel reference. Benefits: Tunable filter is a key component in a DWDM fiber-optic network for military avionics applications. Our proposed works will be based on novel semiconductor device structure with compact size and strong filtering characteristics. By utilizing current injection in semiconductor materials, tunable filters with ultrafast nanosecond tuning speed can be achieved. It is anticipated that the tunable filter developed in these phases will be suitable for strong potential use in numerous areas of the private sector. In addition, there exist a number of other areas of importance to the federal government (e.g. DOD) where the technologies like those developed in this project could support key applications, such as packet or cell-level switching, and next-generation all-optical packet routing networks, etc. Return