Wavelength agile multiplexing
Methods and systems concerning demultiplexing and multiplexing light in optical multiplexing systems are disclosed herein. An optical multiplexing system may include a number of light emitters and a number of associated waveguides. Light emitted from each of the number of light emitters may travel through the associated waveguide and may enter a multiplexer, where a multiplexing operation may occur. At least one of the number of light emitters may be configured to emit light with multiple wavelengths. Such a light emitter may further be associated with a demultiplexer to demultiplex the light with multiple wavelengths before the light reaches a multiplexer. After a demultiplexing operation, the demultiplexed light may be directed to multiple waveguides and the multiple waveguides may guide the demultiplexed light to a multiplexer.
1 . A multiplexing system comprising:
a plurality of multi-wavelength light emitters, each configured to emit a corresponding multi-wavelength light output;
a demultiplexer configured to receive the corresponding multi-wavelength light outputs from each of the plurality of multi-wavelength light outputs and to split the corresponding multi-wavelength light outputs into a plurality of unique outputs, wherein each multi-wavelength emitter of the plurality of multi-wavelength light emitters is directly connected to a different corresponding input of the demultiplexer; and
a light combiner configured to combine the plurality of unique outputs into an output waveguide.
2 . The multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-wavelength light emitters comprises:
a first multi-wavelength light emitter;
a second multi-wavelength light emitter; and
a third multi-wavelength light emitter.
3 . The multiplexing system of claim 2 , wherein:
each of the plurality of multi-wavelength light emitters is configured to emit three corresponding unique wavelengths of light; and
the plurality of unique outputs comprises nine unique outputs.
4 . The multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of multi-wavelength light emitters comprises a tunable laser.
5 . The multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer is an Echelle demultiplexer.
6 . The multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the combiner is an Echelle multiplexer.
7 . A multiplexing system comprising:
a first multi-wavelength light emitter configured to emit a first multi-wavelength light output;
a second multi-wavelength light emitter configured to emit a second multi-wavelength light output;
a third multi-wavelength light emitter configured to emit a third multi-wavelength light output;
a demultiplexer configured to receive and split the first multi-wavelength light output, the second multi-wavelength light output, and the third multi-wavelength light output into a plurality of unique outputs, wherein each of the first multi-wavelength light emitter, the second multi-wavelength light emitter, and the third multi-wavelength light emitter is directly connected to a different corresponding input of the demultiplexer; and
a light combiner configured to combine the plurality of unique outputs into an output waveguide.
8 . The multiplexing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the first multi-wavelength light output, the second multi-wavelength light output, and the third multi-wavelength light output each comprise three corresponding wavelengths of light; and
the plurality of unique outputs comprises nine unique outputs.
9 . The multiplexing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the first multi-wavelength light output comprises a plurality of wavelengths that are spaced by at least 3 nm to 15 nm.
10 . The multiplexing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the first multi-wavelength light emitter, the second multi-wavelength light emitter, and the third multi-wavelength light emitter each comprise a tunable laser.
11 . The multiplexing system of claim 7 , wherein the demultiplexer is an Echelle demultiplexer.
12 . The multiplexing system of claim 7 , wherein the combiner is an Echelle multiplexer.
13 . A method for multiplexing light, the method comprising:
emitting a first light output from a first multi-wavelength light emitter;
emitting a second light output from a second multi-wavelength light emitter;
emitting a third light output from a third multi-wavelength light emitter;
demultiplexing each of the first light output, the second light output, and the third light output, using a demultiplexer, into a plurality of unique outputs, wherein each of the first multi-wavelength light emitter, the second multi-wavelength light emitter, and the third multi-wavelength light emitter is directly connected to a different corresponding input of the demultiplexer; and
multiplexing the plurality of unique outputs into an output waveguide using a multiplexer.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the demultiplexer is an Echelle demultiplexer.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the multiplexer is an Echelle multiplexer.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first multi-wavelength light emitter, the second multi-wavelength light emitter, and the third multi-wavelength light emitter each comprise a tunable laser.