Dynamically selective multiwavelength cross-connect based on fibre Bragg gratings and mechanical optical switches

A dynamically selective multiwavelength cross-connect for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks based on fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) and optical switches is reported. Dynamically single- or multi-channel cross-connect functionality can be realized according to control of the optical switches and the FBGs' arrangement. Bit-error-rate performance with negligible power penalty is achieved in a 2.5Gbs-1x3 WDM channels over 100km conventional single-mode fibre (SMF) network demonstration. The characteristics of low channel crosstalk, uniform channel loss, high scalability and cascadability, and low cost of this device could provide more reconfiguration flexibility and network survivability for WDM networks.