MEMS based Channelized Dispersion Compensator with Flat Passbands

This paper describes a continuously variable and independently addressable channelized dispersion compensator. The optical system is a free-space grating based system used in a four- pass configuration to ensure flat pass bands. The variable dispersion is produced by an array of thermally adaptable curvature micro mechanical mirrors. A per channel variable dispersion greater than +/-400ps/nm has been demonstrated, with 56GHz +/-0.4dB flat passband on 85GHz spacing. The group delay ripple is less than 7ps and the penalty with 40Gb/s CSRZ is 0.7dB.