Multiwavelength and Multiport Hitless Wavelength-Selective Switch Using Series-Coupled Microring Resonators

We demonstrate the basic elements of a full matrix optical switching circuit using a hitless wavelength-selective switch (WSS). It is a multiwavelength channel-selective switch consisting of cascaded hitless WSS, and a multiport switch. These switching elements are based on the individual thermooptic tuning of double series-coupled microring resonators, and can switch arbitrary wavelength channels without blocking other wavelength channels during tuning. The fundamental switching operations, such as four switching states from a three-wavelength selection to a zero-wavelength selection and multiport switching characteristics, are successfully demonstrated