Broadband all-photonic spectrum shapers

A device useful as an arbitrary spectral shaper, comprising:

• a photonic integrated circuit, comprising:
• an input for receiving input electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth greater than 60 nm;
• a spectral splitter connected to the input, the spectral splitter splitting the electromagnetic radiation into a plurality of spectral channels each transmitting a different subband of the bandwidth, wherein at least one of the following:
• the bandwidth,
• a spectral spacing of the spectral channels, the subband, or a number of the spectral channels is adjusted as a function of the spectral intensity profile of the input electromagnetic radiation and a desired output spectral intensity profile;
• a modulator, connected to the spectral splitter, for modulating an amplitude and a phase of one or more of the spectral channels so as to form modulated outputs, wherein the modulator further comprises drop ports redirecting rejected portions of the electromagnetic radiation away from the photonic integrated circuit so as to suppress noise;
• and
• a spectral recombiner, connected to the output of the modulator, for combining the modulated outputs into a single output port outputting output electromagnetic radiation having the desired output spectral intensity profile shaped by and synthesized from the modulated outputs.