Differential processing using an arrayed-waveguide grating

This paper reports on time-space conversion-based differential processing of optical signals using a high-resolution arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and a spatial filter at a wavelength of 1.55/μm. We clarify the advantages of the AWG device and show where it is applicable. In order to reduce loss at the spatial filter, we propose a new phase-only filter that functions as a differential filter. The difference between the exact differential filter and the proposed phase-only filter is calculated theoretically. We confirm experimentally that the optical pulse can be differentiated by the proposed filter. For application of differential processing, we also proposed a phase modulation to amplitude modulation (PM-AM) conversion and demonstrated the PM-AM conversion at 10Gbit/s signals using a PSK-nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) format.