Spatial light modulation device and wavelength selective switch

A wavelength selective switch (WSS) device comprising:

• an input/output optical module configured to receive an incoming optical signal and output a processed optical signal;
• an imaging optical module receiving the incoming optical signal from the input/output optical module, the imaging optical module comprising a diffraction grating;
• a spatial light modulation device configured to receive the incoming optical signal from the imaging optical module, the spatial light modulation device comprising:
• an electronic backplane;
• a reflective layer defining a pixel array structure comprising a plurality of pixels, the reflective layer being disposed atop the electronic backplane;
• a phase change material (PCM) layer disposed atop each pixel of the pixel array structure, a phase of the PCM layer being selectively in a crystalline state or an amorphous state based on a temperature thereof;
• and
• an encapsulation layer disposed atop the PCM layer such that the PCM layer is sandwiched between the reflective layer and the encapsulation layer;
• and
• a controller communicably connected to the spatial light modulation device, the controller being configured to cause the electronic backplane of the spatial light modulation device to generate, based on instructions received from the controller, electrical current for defining an independent heat profile in the PCM layer of each pixel of the pixel array structure through Joule's effect, a variation of the phase of the PCM layer being used to modulate optical properties of an incoming optical signal reaching the spatial light modulation device.