Dynamic channel blocker/equalizer with high blocking extinction ratio

The effect of an interpixel gap on light leakage in a free-space liquid-crystal-based dynamic channel blocker/equalizer is studied. The electric field components along the driving electric field within the liquid crystal interpixel gap are numerically calculated. The results show nonuniform distributions in both width and thickness. The numeric results on the relation between gap width and electric field distribution are also presented. A 20-channel, 200-GHz channel-spacing blocker/equalizer on the C band with flat tops and a 40-dB extinction ratio is fabricated and examined.