Reconfigurable Optical Add and Drop Multiplexers A Review

Abstract

Optical multiplexing is the key function of a WDM network and reliable method for data transport networks. WDM networks configured as rings/mesh along with Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers supports added flexibility, simplicity and augment the spectral efficiency. Further enhancement achieved with Reconfigurable OADM architectures, growing briskly along with automatic network management, let the transport network to acclimatize with dynamically varying environment and flexibly respond to the transport network changes. It permits single or many wavelengths to be added and/or dropped from a transport fiber without optical-to-electrical-to-optical domain translation. Presently ROADM technology has revolutionized optical networking and an inseparable part of modern optical communication offering huge bandwidth for data transport at minimum expense. In this view the article presents comprehensive study for numerous generations of ROADM and their architecture and persistent development.