Dispersion trimming in a reconfigurable wavelength selective switch

We experimentally demonstrate dispersion compensation in a wavelength selective switch, and characterize the bandwidth-dispersion product. At a channel bit-rate of 80 Gbit/s, we compensate for various amounts of dispersion (up to +/- 60 ps/nm), tunable for each wavelength division multiplexed channel, solely by adjusting the phase front of the optical signal inside the wavelength selective switch. Error-free operation. is obtained for all of the channels, and for each output port after propagation over various lengths of dispersive fiber.