Design and realization of polarization independent phased array wavelength demultiplexers using different array orders for TE and TM

A method for designing polarization independent phased-array wavelength demultiplexers, using different array orders for TE and TM, is described and analyzed with respect to fabrication variations. Flattening of the wavelength response is shown to improve fabrication tolerances. A four channel phased-array wavelength demultiplexer with at least 0.2 nm of polarization independent flattened response for each channel (spacing 1 nm) has been made with an insertion loss of 1.5-3 dB and a crosstalk of -17 to -19 dB.