Method and system for testing a tunable chromatic dispersion, dispersion slope, and polarization mode dispersion compensator utilizing a virtually imaged phased array

A system, comprising:

• a broad-band light source;
• a dispersion compensator optically coupled to the broad-band light source, wherein the dispersion compensator comprises:
• a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA) optically coupled to the broad-band light source, wherein a composite optical signal from the broad-band light source 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, dispersion slope, and polarization made dispersion,
• 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,
• at least one birefringent wedge, wherein a first side of the at least one birefringent wedge is optically coupled to a second side of the at least one diffraction grating,
• at least one focusing lens, wherein a first side of the at least one focusing lens is optically coupled to a second side of the at least one birefringent wedge, and
• at least one mirror optically coupled to a second side of the at least one focusing lens, wherein the at least one mirror reflects a plurality of polarized rays of each of spatially separated bands of wavelengths toward a return direction, wherein dispersion is added to the reflected plurality of polarized rays such that the unwanted chromatic dispersion, dispersion slope, and polarization made dispersion are compensated;
• and
• an optical spectrum analyzer optically coupled to the dispersion compensator for measuring a spectrum outputted by the dispersion compensator.