Abstract: In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device includes an interleaver/deinterleaver, which includes a passive thermal compensator, wherein an optical signal which transverses the optical device undergoes substantially no temperature induced frequency drift over a desired temperature range. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device includes a first element which decomposes the optical signal into a first beam and a second beam with the first beam being in a first polarization state. The first and second polarization states being orthogonal to one another and including each of the multiple channels.

Abstract: A light filtering assembly for filtering an input beam of light having a plurality of desired wavelength components and a plurality of unwanted wavelength components so as to provide an output beam having only the desired wavelength components. The filtering assembly comprises an input section, a filtering section, and an output section. The input section divides the input beam into a plurality of polarized beamlets that travel along a corresponding plurality of spatially separated beam paths. The polarized beamlets comprise a plurality of desired beamlets corresponding to the desired wavelength components of the input beam and a plurality of unwanted beamlets corresponding to the unwanted wavelength components of the input beam. The filtering section is disposed in the paths of the beamlets so that the desired beamlets are passed and the unwanted beamlets are blocked.

Abstract: A light filtering assembly for filtering an input beam of light having a plurality of desired wavelength components and a plurality of unwanted wavelength components so as to provide an output beam having only the desired wavelength components. The filtering assembly comprises an input section, a filtering section, and an output section. The input section divides the input beam into a plurality of polarized beamlets that travel along a corresponding plurality of spatially separated beam paths. The polarized beamlets comprise a plurality of desired beamlets corresponding to the desired wavelength components of the input beam and a plurality of unwanted beamlets corresponding to the unwanted wavelength components of the input beam. The filtering section is disposed in the paths of the beamlets so that the desired beamlets are passed and the unwanted beamlets are blocked.

Abstract: In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device includes an interleaver/deinterleaver, which includes a passive thermal compensator, wherein an optical signal which traverses the optical device undergoes substantially no temperature induced frequency drift over a desired temperature range.

Abstract: A wavelength division demultiplexer includes a channel dropping component for receiving optical signals transmitted through a plurality of optical channels, defined by successively different light wavelength bands at intervals ranging between a first channel having the lowest wavelength band to a last channel having the highest wavelength band. The channel dropping component separates at least one channel having a wavelength band intermediate the lowest wavelength band and the highest wavelength band. The demultiplexer further includes an edge filter for separating optical signals received from the channel dropping component that have wavelengths below the intermediate wavelength band from optical signals having wavelengths above the intermediate wavelength band. The separated optical signals are transmitted from the edge filter in two different optical paths.

Abstract: An optical waveguide optical amplifier device for use with an optical telecommunications system that transmits optically amplifiable subscriber channels and communicates service information internally within the system with optical service channels and includes an optical amplifier input, an amplifier output, and optical amplifier medium. The optical amplifier input includes a reflective isolator longitudinal body with a first end and a second end. The first end includes an input fiber for receiving the subscriber and optical service channels inputted into the amplifier input and an output fiber for transmitting the subscriber channels to the amplifier medium. The second end of the reflective isolator body includes an optical service channel accessor which guides the subscriber channels to the output optical fiber.

Abstract: A wavelength division demultiplexer includes a channel dropping component for receiving optical signals transmitted through a plurality of optical channels, defined by successively different light wavelength bands at intervals ranging between a first channel having the lowest wavelength band to a last channel having the highest wavelength band. The channel dropping component separates at least one channel having a wavelength band intermediate the lowest wavelength band and the highest wavelength band. The demultiplexer further includes an edge filter for separating optical signals received from the channel dropping component that have wavelengths below the intermediate wavelength band from optical signals having wavelengths above the intermediate wavelength band. The separated optical signals are transmitted from the edge filter in two different optical paths.

Abstract: A rare-earth-doped waveguide device which exhibits stable cw laser and amplifier operation for near-infrared optical pumping in a room-temperature environment is provided. The waveguide device is comprised of an x- or y-cut LiNbO.sub.3 substrate on which metal-diffused channel optical waveguides are formed parallel to, or nearly parallel to, the crystallographic z-axis. The LiNbO.sub.3 substrate is rare-earth doped either by thermal diffusion of single or multiple rare-earth ions. Alternatively, the rare-earth doped substrate is doped with rare-earth ions during the growth of the crystal from which the substrate was prepared with additional thermal diffusion of rare-earth dopants as required. This orientation of the waveguide channel substantially parallel to the crystallographic z-axis permits reliable laser and amplifier action without the destabilizing effects of photorefractive optical damage.