Optical engineering of photonic switching systems

Photonic switching systems image arrays of sources onto arrays of detectors and modulators. Even this simple functionality poses serious challenges for the optical engineer. Image quality must be excellent because the large modulator bandwidth demands small modulator size. Magnification and distortion must be precisely corrected for the spot array to fit onto the detector array. The system must be extraordinarily stable for the spots to stay on the detector array. For these reasons, photonic switching systems have traditionally been mounted on vibration isolated optical tables. This paper describes our newest system, which is mounted in a standard electronics frame. Experimental results and design methodologies are discussed.