The invention relates to a planar waveguide reflective diffraction grating
for use in an optical device, such as a wavelength division multiplexer,
providing an increased bandwidth over conventional planar waveguide
reflection diffraction gratings while eliminating the polarization
dependent loss (PDL) typically associated therewith. The
multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the present invention includes
input and output ports optimally positioned in accordance with the
grating facet diffraction envelope to minimized back reflection to the
input ports and maximize output light collected from different
diffraction orders.