Dynamic space-variant optical interconnections using liquid crystal spatial light modulators

We demonstrate the feasibility of fully arbitrary real-time reconfigurable three-dimensional optical interconnection and photonic switching between up to 64 input and output channels. We use space-variant multifacet diffractive optical elements written on a nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator capable of almost continous phase modulation. The fundamental performance limits of these devices, and an optical system that reduces the size of the interconnect stage are analyzed.