Optical devices for wavelength division multiplexing according to free spectral range based wavebands

A method comprising:

• generating an input light beam, the input light beam comprising sets of optical signals within a plurality of wavebands, wherein the sets of optical signals comprise a plurality of optical signals at wavelengths within a respective waveband of the plurality of wavebands;
• receiving, by a plurality of waveguides, the sets of optical signals, wherein the sets of optical signals are split amongst the plurality of waveguides according to the plurality of wavebands;
• modulating, by sets of optical modulators, an optical signal at a wavelength corresponding to a resonance wavelength of the respective optical modulator;
• and
• combining the modulated optical signals from the sets of optical modulators into a modulated output light beam,
• wherein the plurality of wavebands comprise a waveband spacing that is based on a free spectral range of the sets of optical modulators.

An optical receiver comprising:

• a first demultiplexer that splits a first modulated optical signal into a first plurality of post-demultiplexed optical signals, wherein the first modulated optical signal comprises first sets of modulated discrete optical signals within a plurality of wavebands, wherein each of the first plurality of post-demultiplexed optical signals comprises a set of the modulated discrete optical signals of the first sets of modulated discrete optical signals;
• a plurality of waveguides that receive the first plurality of post-demultiplexed optical signals from the first demultiplexer, wherein the first sets of modulated optical signals are split amongst the plurality of waveguides according to the plurality of wavebands;
• and
• sets of detectors optically coupled to the plurality of waveguides, wherein the sets of detectors comprise:
• an optical detector that receives a post-demultiplexed optical signal of the first plurality of post-demultiplexed optical signals via a waveguide of the plurality of waveguides and drops the received post-demultiplexed optical signal at a wavelength corresponding to a resonance wavelength of the respective optical detector;
• and
• a photodetector that detects the modulated post-demultiplexed optical signal from the optical detector to extract data imparted on the modulated optical signal,
• wherein the plurality of wavebands comprise a waveband spacing that is based on a free spectral range of the optical detector.