Realization of an optical communication tunable filter using a diffraction-based optical system

Optical bandpass tunable filters are key elements for dense WDM optical communication systems. Recently, a realization of optical linear transformation using a spatial diffraction optical system was presented and theoretically analyzed [J. Opt. Sec. Am. A 21, 732 (2004)]. We present an optical bandpass tunable filter based on this optical system and a spatial light modulator. The mathematical analysis and additional computer simulations for testing the filter's basic parameters using the Fresnel diffraction theory are presented. Some newly obtained laboratory experimental results of the device in the optical visible spectrum will be shown. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America