Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter

article Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter published yes David A. B. Miller author Charles Roques-Carmes author e2e68fc9-6505-11ef-a541-eb4e72cc3e82 Carson G. Valdez author Anne R. Kroo author Marek Vlk author Shanhui Fan author Olav Solgaard author Spectral filters are widely used in sensing and communicating with light, such as for separating wavelength channels in communications or sensing the specific spectra of some object or material of interest. The filter function is, however, often fixed, and precise filtering can require precise manufacturing. We propose an approach to integrated optical spectral filtering that allows arbitrary programmability, can compensate automatically for imperfections in filter fabrication, allows multiple simultaneous and separately programmable filter functions on the same input, and can configure itself automatically to the problem of interest, for example, to filter or reject multiple arbitrarily chosen frequencies. The approach exploits splitting the input light into an array of multiple waveguides of different lengths that then feed a programmable interferometer array that can also self-configure. It can give a spectral response similar to arrayed waveguide gratings but offers many other filtering functions, as well as supporting other structures based on non-redundant arrays for precise spectral filtering. Simultaneous filtering also allows an automatic measurement of the temporal coherency matrix and physical separation into the Karhunen–Loève expansion of temporally partially coherent light fields. With this approach, a wide range of spectral operations can be controllably, automatically, and precisely performed by an integrated photonic device with simple programmability. Optica Publishing Group2025 eng Optica 2334-2536 1138558010.1364/optica.557630 1291417-1426 yes Miller, D. A. B., Roques-Carmes, C., Valdez, C. G., Kroo, A. R., Vlk, M., Fan, S., & Solgaard, O. (2025). Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter. Optica. Optica Publishing Group. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630">https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630</a> D. A. B. Miller et al., “Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter,” Optica, vol. 12, no. 9. Optica Publishing Group, pp. 1417–1426, 2025. Miller, David A. B., Charles Roques-Carmes, Carson G. Valdez, Anne R. Kroo, Marek Vlk, Shanhui Fan, and Olav Solgaard. “Universal Programmable and Self-Configuring Optical Filter.” Optica. Optica Publishing Group, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630">https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630</a>. D.A.B. Miller, C. Roques-Carmes, C.G. Valdez, A.R. Kroo, M. Vlk, S. Fan, O. Solgaard, Optica 12 (2025) 1417–1426. Miller DAB, Roques-Carmes C, Valdez CG, Kroo AR, Vlk M, Fan S, Solgaard O. 2025. Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter. Optica. 12(9), 1417–1426. Miller DAB, Roques-Carmes C, Valdez CG, et al. Universal programmable and self-configuring optical filter. Optica. 2025;12(9):1417-1426. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630">10.1364/optica.557630</a> Miller, David A. B., et al. “Universal Programmable and Self-Configuring Optical Filter.” Optica, vol. 12, no. 9, Optica Publishing Group, 2025, pp. 1417–26, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.557630">10.1364/optica.557630</a>. 216412026-03-30T12:22:48Z2026-04-27T07:04:51Z