Enhanced privacy in broadcast passive optical networks through use of spectral slicing in waveguide grating routers

Abstract

Recently proposed wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON) architectures utilize a waveguide-grating router (WGR) at the remote node to establish point-to-point or broadcast connections. While the initial push for WGR-based PONs was driven by the flexibility, privacy/security, and high capacity associated with point-to-point architectures, the advantages of providing broadcast delivery over these networks was also apparent. The WGR, when illuminated by a broadband source, mimics the broadcast function of a conventional passive splitter insofar as each output port receives approximately equal optical power.