This invention covers apparatus for providing a compact, high resolution waveguide optical
demultiplexer or spectrometer for application in optical communications. With this invention,
incoming light composing many discrete wavelengths or optical channels is spectrally
resolved by the waveguide demultiplexer such that the wavelength channels are separated
spatially. The two major elements of this invention are a waveguide having a partial mirror
along its length to reflect optical frequencies therein, and an optical resonator where one of …

We describe a novel waveguide spectrometer for use in wavelength division multiplexing
(WDM) systems. A high refractive index resonator is coupled to a waveguide and extracts
light from the waveguide at its resonance frequency. A taper in the thickness of the resonator
allows light of different wavelengths to be extracted at different positions. A structure is
fabricated for use at 750 nm with a measured dispersion of 29 nm/cm and a wavelength
resolution of 1 nm. The device operation is in good agreement with first-order coupled-mode …