Optoelectronic packaging of arrayed-waveguide grating modules and their environmental stability tests

We designed and fabricated arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) modules with thermoelectric coolers/heaters. At these modules we measured the optical fiber-chip coupling loss and the optical reflections. Further we investigated the temperature stability of the center wavelengths. The fabricated AWGs had 8 and 16 channels, respectively, with a spacing of 0.8 nm (100 GHz) at 1540 nm center wavelength. The measurements show that the center wavelength could be kept constant within +/-0.015 nm at ambient temperatures between 0 to 40 degreesC. The center wavelength could be tuned over 0.3 nm by temperature adjustment. We performed environmental tests that revealed a good mechanical stability of the AWG modules. (C) 2000 Academic Press.