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Compact 64 x 64 micromechanical optical cross connect

01 July 2003

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This letter describes a 64 x 64 beam steering optical cross connect constructed using surface micromachined mirrors. It used a curved mirror as a Fourier transform element and to fold the optical system. Both micromechanical switches mirror arrays are fabricated on a single chip and packaged in a single package. The switch fabric size, at 100 x 120 x mm, is compatible with mounting on a standard circuit card. The cross connect achieves a mean fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 1.9 dB.