Comb filter with independently tunable wavelength spacing and bandwidth using cascaded variable differential group delay elements

An all-optical comb filter with independently tunable wavelength spacing and bandwidth (BW) is proposed. Using three cascaded variable differential-group-delay elements, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally the tunability of the comb filter with > 10 dB sidelobe reduction by adjusting three elements. The wavelength spacing is determined by the first filter module, while the sidelobe suppression ratio and the BW are defined by the middle and the last one, respectively. (c) 2011 Optical Society of America