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Optical switching

  • US 9,986,316 B2
  • Filed: 08/21/2013
  • Issued: 05/29/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An optical switch comprising:

  • a plurality of inputs, each arranged to receive a respective input optical signal at one of a plurality of wavelengths and having a respective planar wavefront;

    converter arranged to receive each input optical signal and arranged to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum;

    optical multiplexer arranged to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the converter and arranged to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and

    optical demultiplexer comprising a plurality of outputs, the optical demultiplexer arranged to;

    receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal;

    demultiplex the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta;

    reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and

    deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion;

    wherein the optical demultiplexer further comprises;

    an optical splitter arranged to receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal and arranged to split it into a plurality of replica signals; and

    a plurality of orbital angular momentum demodulators each coupled to a respective output and arranged to receive a respective one of the replica orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signals and each arranged to reconvert optical signals having a respective preselected one of the helical wavefronts into a wavelength multiplexed optical signal having a respective planar wavefront and to deliver the reconverted wavelength multiplexed optical signal to its output.

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