An on-chip integrated waveguide-based acousto-optic programmable spectral equalizer and method

Abstract

An on-chip integrated waveguide-based acousto-optic programmable optical spectrum equalizer and method, the equalizer comprising an acousto-optic interaction waveguide, a radio frequency programmable electro-acoustic transducer, a polarization selector and a programmable radio frequency driver. The acousto-optic interaction waveguide adopts a meandering, spiral or other planar topological structure, greatly extending the acousto-optic interaction length in a limited chip area; the electro-acoustic transducer excites a controllable acoustic surface wave, forming a dynamically reconfigurable acousto-optic grating. The optical signal interacts with the acousto-optic grating in the waveguide, undergoes polarization mode conversion, is separated by the polarization selector, and realizes software-defined dynamic control of the filtering center wavelength, bandwidth and spectral type. The present application solves the problems of large volume, slow response and insufficient tuning flexibility of traditional bulk acousto-optic devices, has the advantages of high integration, fast response and strong programmable ability, and is suitable for ultrafast laser shaping, dynamic spectral equalization and high-speed optical signal processing.

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