Optical Switching Systems

A wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) reconfigurable optical switch, the switch comprising:

• a set of arrays of optical beam connections, each comprising an array of optical outputs and having an optical input configured to receive a WDM input optical signal;
• a first diffractive element configured to demultiplex said WDM input optical signal into a plurality of demultiplexed optical input beams, and to disperse said demultiplexed optical input beams spatially along a first axis;
• first relay optics between said set of arrays of optical beam connections and said first diffractive element;
• and
• a reconfigurable holographic array comprising a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprising a 2D array of reconfigurable subholograms defining sub-hologram rows and columns;
• a driver coupled to said SLM having a control data input configured to control driving said SLM with said sub-holograms to steer said demultiplexed optical input beams from the optical inputs of each of said set of arrays to selected said optical outputs of the arrays;
• wherein said arrays of said set of arrays are at least one dimensional arrays and arranged in a column defining a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
• wherein said sub-hologram rows are aligned along said first axis, and wherein said sub-hologram columns are aligned along said second axis;
• and
• wherein each sub-hologram row is configured to receive a set of demultiplexed optical input beams at different carrier wavelengths demultiplexed from the optical input for an array of the set of arrays;
• wherein each of said sub-holograms in a sub-hologram row is reconfigurable to steer a respective wavelength channel of the WDM input signal for an array towards a selected said optical output for the array;
• and
• wherein each said sub-hologram row is configured to steer the demultiplexed optical input beams for an array of the set of arrays of optical beam connections.