In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal
processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially
conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips
disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input
optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than
40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation
in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction
of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is
communicated in one direction.