A module design of rearrangeable nonblocking double omega optical network using binary optics elements

Omega network plays an important role in all optical communication and optical interconnection networks. In this paper, a novel technology, which binary optics element (micro-blazed grating array) can realize perfect shuffle transform including inverse perfect shuffle and left perfect shuffle, is proposed. Moreover, by a cascade of inverse perfect shuffle and left perfect shuffle, a multistage rearrangeable nonblocking omega network can be constructed. Simultaneously, the bipartition graph algorithm (BGA) is adopted to ascertain the state of node switch in each node stage (straight or crossover connection). At last, a module of the rearrangeable nonblocking omega network which is integrated with polarizing beam-splitter, half-wave plate, micro-blazed grating array, is presented. It can accomplish the functions of 8-channel signal beams’ sorting and switching without routing conflict and blocking, and has advantages of being compact in structure, easy to integrate, efficient in performance etc. Finally, both the theoretical analysis and the experimental result show that this module proposed here may be helpful in free-space optical interconnection network and optical information processing.