The present invention is a
wavelength-selective optical switching
system. The switching
system includes an input
waveguide designated as
waveguide WG(0) for receiving a multiplexed optical
signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of
wavelength channels represented by λ1, λ2, λ3, , λN, where N is a positive integer wherein the input
waveguide extending over a first direction. The switching
system further includes a two dimensional
waveguide array comprising a plurality of first direction waveguides WG(i), i=1, 2, 3, , M extending over the first direction substantially parallel to the input waveguide WG(0) where M is a positive integer and a plurality of second direction waveguides WG′(j), j=1, 2, 3, N, extending over a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the input waveguide and each of the first direction waveguide WG(i), i=0, 1, 2, 3, ,M, thus forming (M+1)×N intersections. The switching system further includes a plurality of
wavelength selective
grating-based switches SW(i, j) where i=0, 1, 2, 3, , M and j=1, 2, 3, , N, each disposed on one of the (M+1)×N intersections for selectively transmitting an optical
signal of wavelength λj into a waveguide WG′(j) and for selectively transmitting an optical
signal of a predefined combination of wavelengths into at least one of the waveguide WG(i) for i=1, 2, 3, M.