Demonstration of multi-degree color/direction-independent waveguide-based transponder-aggregator for flexible optical path networks

We have demonstrated a novel transponder-aggregator that helps achieve multi-degree add/drop color/direction-independent multiplexing in ROADM/OXC. The aggregator employs a c-AWG and a matrix switch with an aggregation-function. We show 8-degree add/drop operations and a less than 1.6-dB powerpenalty resulting from power-crosstalk.