A wavelength selective manipulation device and method including: at least
a first optical input port for inputting an optical signal including a
plurality of wavelength channels; a first wavelength dispersing element
for angularly dispersing the wavelength channels of the optical signal
into angularly dispersed wavelength signals; an optical power element for
focussing in the angularly dispersed dimension the angularly dispersed
wavelength signals into a series of elongated spatially separated
wavelengths bands; a spatial manipulation element for selectively
manipulating the spatial characteristics of the spatially separated
wavelength bands to produce spatially manipulated wavelength bands.