3.5 Wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing

Wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers are needed in order to be able to use wavelength division multiplexing. With just two wavelengths, the multiplexers and demultiplexers can be based on directional couplers because, as mentioned earlier in Section 3.2, couplers are naturally wavelength-dependent and with appropriate design can be arranged to split and combine two chosen wavelengths. As shown in Figure 26, and using the language of a 2 × 2 switch (Figure 24), the coupler is in the ‘cross’ (over) state for λ₂ and the ‘bar’ (non cross-over) state for λ₁.

Figure 26 Wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing with a directional coupler

With dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) forty or more wavelengths can share a single fibre.

A number of different technologies have been developed for multiplexing and demultiplexing multiple wavelengths, but the principle is illustrated by a prism, as shown in Figure 27. You are probably familiar with the way in which a prism splits white light into its constituent colours (the rainbow effect), so the principle can be used to separate the different wavelengths in the beam emerging from a fibre carrying a DWDM signal.

Figure 27 Using prisms for wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing

Used in reverse, a prism can combine the different wavelengths into a single DWDM beam. Wavelength division multiplexers and demultiplexers based upon prisms can be used in practice for DWDM, but not quite as drawn in Figure 27 because lenses are required to couple the light into and out of the fibres.