Tunable chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator utilizing a virtually imaged phased array

A dispersion and dispersion slope compensator, comprising:

• a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA) optically coupled to an optical fiber transmission system at a first side, wherein a composite optical signal from the optical fiber transmission system is capable of traversing through the VIPA in a forward direction, wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprise unwanted dispersion and dispersion slope;
• at least one diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the at least one diffraction grating is optically coupled to a second side of the VIPA;
• a focusing lens, wherein a first side of the focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the at least one diffraction grating;
• and
• a mirror optically coupled to a second side of the focusing lens, wherein the mirror reflects the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through the focusing lens, the at least one diffraction grating, and the VIPA in the return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator, comprising:

• a VIPA optically coupled to an optical fiber transmission system at a first side, wherein a composite optical signal from the optical fiber transmission system is capable of traversing through the VIPA in a forward direction, wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprise unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope,
• wherein the VIPA separates the wavelengths in a band of wavelengths in each of a plurality of channels, wherein each of the wavelengths in the band is spatially distinguishable from the other wavelengths in the band;
• a first diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the first diffracting grating is optically coupled to a second side of the VIPA;
• a second diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the second diffraction grating is optically coupled to a second side of the first diffraction grating, wherein a distance between the first and second diffraction gratings is adjustable, wherein the first and second diffraction gratings spatially separate each band of wavelengths in the plurality of channels traversing through the first and second diffraction gratings in the forward direction;
• a focusing lens, wherein a first side of the focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the second diffraction grating;
• and
• a mirror optically coupled to a second side of the focusing lens, wherein the mirror reflects the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through the focusing lens, the first and second diffraction gratings, and the VIPA in the return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator, comprising:

• a VIPA optically coupled to an optical fiber transmission system at a first side, wherein a composite optical signal from the optical fiber transmission system is capable of traversing through the VIPA in a forward direction,
• wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprise unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope,
• wherein the VIPA separates the wavelengths in a band of wavelengths in each of a plurality of channels, wherein each of the wavelengths in the band is spatially distinguishable from the other wavelengths in the band;
• a first diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the first diffracting grating is optically coupled to a second side of the VIPA;
• a second diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the second diffraction grating is optically coupled to a second side of the first diffraction grating, wherein a distance between the first and second diffraction gratings is adjustable, wherein the first and second diffraction gratings spatially separate each band of wavelengths in the plurality of channels traversing through the first and second diffraction gratings in the forward direction;
• a beam condenser, wherein a first side of the beam condenser is optically coupled to a second side of the second diffraction grating;
• a focusing lens, wherein a first side of the focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the beam condenser;
• and
• a mirror optically coupled to a second side of the focusing lens, wherein the mirror reflects the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through the focusing leans, the beam condenser, the first and second diffraction gratings, and the VIPA in the return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A system, comprising:

• an optical fiber transmission system;
• and
• a chromatic dispersion compensator optically coupled to the optical fiber transmission system, the chromatic dispersion compensator comprising:
• a VIPA optically coupled to the optical fiber transmission system at a first side, wherein a composite optical signal from the optical fiber transmission system is capable of traversing through the VIPA in a forward direction, wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprise unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope;
• at least one diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the at least one diffraction grating is optically coupled to a second side of the VIPA;
• a focusing lens, wherein a first side of the focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the at least one diffraction grating;
• and
• a mirror optically coupled to a second side of the focusing lens, wherein the mirror reflects the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through the focusing lens, the at least one diffraction grating, and the VIPA in the return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A system, comprising:

• an optical fiber transmission system;
• an optical circulator, wherein a first port and a third port of the optical circulator are optically coupled to the optical fiber transmission system;
• and
• a chromatic dispersion compensator optically coupled to a second port of the optical circulator, the chromatic dispersion compensator comprising:
• a VIPA optically coupled to the optical fiber transmission system at a first side, wherein a composite optical signal from the optical fiber transmission system is capable of traversing through the VIPA in a forward direction, wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprise unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope;
• at least one diffraction grating, wherein a first side of the at least one diffraction grating is optically coupled to a second side of the VIPA;
• a focusing lens, wherein a first side of the focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the at least one diffraction grating;
• and
• a mirror optically coupled to a second side of the focusing lens, wherein the mirror reflects the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through focusing lens, the at least one diffraction grating, and the VIPA in the return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A system, comprising:

• a chromatic dispersion compensator;
• and
• a composite optical signal traversing through the chromatic dispersion compensator, wherein the composite optical signal comprises a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels comprising a band of wavelengths, wherein the bands of wavelengths comprises unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope,
• wherein the composite optical signal is propagated in a forward direction,
• wherein the wavelengths in the band of wavelengths in each of the plurality of channels are separated wherein the each of the wavelengths in the band is spatially distinguishable from the other wavelengths in the band,
• wherein each band of wavelengths in the plurality of channels is spatially separated, and
• wherein the spatially separated bands of wavelengths are reflected toward a return direction wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.

A system, comprising:

• means for propagating a composite optical signal in a forward direction;
• means for separating wavelengths in a band of wavelengths in each of a plurality of channels, wherein each of the wavelengths in the band is spatially distinguishable from the other wavelengths in the band;
• means for spatially separating each band of wavelengths in the plurality of channels;
• and
• means for reflecting the spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein the bands of wavelengths propagate through the separating means and the spatially separating means, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected bands of wavelengths such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated.