Here is another good article on future WDM technologies:
techweb.com
(Here are the references to LightChip/Lightpath)
All of the newer techniques, including those of Bookham,
Lightwave and LightChip, have several applications in optics and optical networking,
not just WDM, and all are using technologies based on silicon-wafer-processing
techniques. "The real kicker there is, if they can build it and get volumes, then they
should also have low cost," he said. "Cost will be especially important for the
metropolitan-network applications, where the number of users to share the cost of
equipment is much lower than in a long-haul network."
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LightChip Inc., a joint venture of Lightpath Technologies Inc. (Albuquerque, N.M.) and
Invention Machines Corp. (Boston) has developed a radial gradient index optical glass
material called Gradium that is heterogeneous, or layered, each layer having its own
refractive index, as well as a process that results in an integrated electro-optical material
with very little crosstalk between wavelengths and better control of light's behavior.
Products are being developed first for long-haul applications, said Paul Dempewolf,
vice president of new business development for LightChip. |
